No matter how I number my favorites, they are not saved, so that in a fight, when I click a number, I am left standing there taking hits with the wrong weapon/s in my hands.. embarrassing to say the least, but I think of it as bloody annoying.

Do you have duplicates of the weapons in your inventory? That will stop you from Hotkeying an item. Or, making it stick.

No, I only have three major weapons in Favs, but I do have a shout and soultrap.. will that affect the saving?
PS: just thought on.. I have soul tralp, and a bow that traps souls too.. maybe that?