The thing that bugged me was that I also knew a BUNCH of intermediate steps. I wished I could enter them and get feedback instead of "Incorrect answer". I don't mind having to do all the pieces.
I think what might work is just if it says "Too early" and makes a list of stuff below the puzzle that you've solved too early and just put a checkmark next to it once it's ready and let you click it to enter it.
Right now it's giving negative feedback, I think it should be a positive to recognize pieces of the puzzle early, even if you still need to do the whole puzzle.
Agree - I don't think giving correct feedback early does anything to hurt this, in fact I expect it encourages it. You still need to do the whole solution. But a little bookkeeping and correct feedback when you've got the pieces outside-in would be greatly appreciated.
I think what might work is just if it says "Too early" and makes a list of stuff below the puzzle that you've solved too early and just put a checkmark next to it once it's ready and let you click it to enter it.
Right now it's giving negative feedback, I think it should be a positive to recognize pieces of the puzzle early, even if you still need to do the whole puzzle.