I've think about a way to cleanly implement this without using so much space.
1) You use constant combinator without slot and without cable port.
2) When construction bot build things they also copy the ghost configuration, so the one in blueprint.
3) It's possible to get and set the configuration via scripts.
4) When a ghost is placed (manually or via blueprint), it's detected as a on_built_entity event.
So what can be done is:
1) Allow a slot in the blank plate.
2) Put all extra letters as signals
3) When a plate is destroyed, transform his ghost as a blank plate with his letter put in the slot.
4) When a blank plate is placed by a robot, transform it to the letter defined in the slot. If that a letter of another type, use the letter but not the material and the size, if something illegal, do nothing (keep it as a blank plate).