I don't have a solution for you while using the LI tags. I note that Word saving lists to html makes unnumbered lists more complex but it doesn't save to UL and LI. Instead it creates paragraph tags for
Code:
p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
If you have the ability to add the classes to the p tags, why is it hard to convert the UL/LI to the more simple P + class? Your CSS can apply the preferred bullets to a P tag