When running
python examples/python/test_superscript_subscript.py -dev wxwidgets
the characters that should have correct alignment for all characters sizes (i.e., utf8 "heavy multiplication x", "number sign", "four teardrop-spoked asterisk", and "8-spoked asterisk") do not have correct vertical alignment.
I have now worked around this issue (commit 4936e40) by adjusting the vertical alignment by exactly a negative character height (using empiricalYOffset), but a fundamental fix would be much preferred so I am keeping the status of this bug open and assigning this issue to Phil for resolution.