Hi Richard,
With the 3x3 grid, there were 3 types of square, the corner, the side, and the middle. The middle was unique but the corner and side had 3 equivalent rotations that likely could be "translated" number for number for the snake patterns and in same manner for the letter patterns. The snakes could be worked out with results from one corner, side and middle but snakes are one time shot. Doing the same with letter patterns would likely take longer to calculate and translate than just translating a snake pattern to a letter pattern, So is it worth it to reduce snake patterns but require and do the same amount of translations?
The reverse trick was quite clever, easiest to understand and use.
Have you any thought about 4x4 grids? Probably learn even fancier words. :D If one bothers to check them out eg, wadsetter :) Which reminds me, do I have an actual dictionary with word AND definition? Such would be a natural addition if you'd like to try Menus with InForm. Heck, it might even be educational, learn while playing... :)
PS a message box would be handy for a quick definition.