Thanks! ❤️A new high score too, cool!
The online components for this actually are super simple and as I'm a full stack dev as a day job too, whipping up a backend for this didn't really take much effort. I had a existing implementation for the leaderboards too so just saving and loading a JSON blob of letter placements instead of a score isn't that different. Other than those, the base gameplay is super simple really. I had the main thing ready in the first few hours I think.
Yeah new game modes would be cool and would offer some greatly needed variance. I guess as you played enough for the new top seat, you started to feel the repetition and lack of challenge. Vast majority of people seem to only play the tutorial and maybe check a level or so they don't probably encounter it yet. Timed mode I'm not sure about. It would just introduce rushing and level resets until you figure out the proper order. The letter count limitations are also kinda already there as you get more point if you achieve the design with less letters as the creator.
One possible thing to include that would probably support making more varied and challenging levels would be to add ability to add "white letters" that would kinda cut out of the design. They would allow players to make designs where you might not immediately see all the letters forming it.