So much for HTML.

For LaTeX, you can do alpha lists as follows (no patch needed):

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
#+LATEX_HEADER: \usepackage{enumerate}

* Letters
#+ATTR_LATEX: :options [(a)]
a. foo
b. bar
c. baz


This is another list, and the option above does not apply to it - 
the enumerators are numbers by default:

a. foo
b. bar
c. baz

* Numbers
1. foo
2. bar
3. baz

This might look like a numbered list, but if you add an option
you can turn it into an alpha list:

#+ATTR_LATEX: :options [A]
1. foo
2. bar
3. baz
--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

You can pass any of the options that the enumerate package allows
without org having to worry about it.

-- 
Nick