"Lowercase" numbers (CM Bright)

Question

For my section headings, I like the look of using shorter numbers (they detract less from the section title), and get by with using the smaller command. However, they are a smaller font size so skinnier as well, which looks a bit strange. I'm not requesting old-style numbers (hang below baseline). Any ideas on how I could achieve this? Perhaps vertically shrink text?
Edit:
Perhaps one solution is to use scalebox (top) vs. smaller (bottom)
scalebox{1}[0.8]{1} Intro
{smaller 1} Intro

Davislor · Answer

Since you didn’t want old-style numbers, here is a solution that scales the height of the numbers to the x-height of the current font, but leaves the width unchanged.  This should result in strokes the same thickness.
documentclass{article}
usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
usepackage{cmbright}

usepackage{xfp} % For fpeval
usepackage{graphicx} % For scalebox

providecommandliningnums[1]{#1}

newlength{capsheight}
newlength{xheight}
newcommandsmallnums[1]{%
  settoheight{capsheight}{X}%
  settoheight{xheight}{x}%
  scalebox{1.0}[fpeval{thexheight / thecapsheight}]{liningnums{#1}}%
}

begin{document}
smallnums{12} Drummers Drumming *

oldstylenums{11} Pipers Piping

10 Lords a-Leaping

fontfamily{lmss}itshapeselectfont
smallnums{9} Ladies Dancing *

oldstylenums{8} Maids a-Milking

7 Swans a-Swimming

fontfamily{lmtt}upshapebfseriesselectfont
smallnums{6} Geese a-Laying *

oldstylenums{5} Golden Rings

4 Calling Birds

normalfontfontfamily{lmr}selectfont
smallnums{3} French Hens *

oldstylenums{2} Turtledoves

And 1 Partridge in 1 Pear Tree

end{document}

"Lowercase" numbers (CM Bright)

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