In case anyone is interested in trying out DF, I recommend using the "Lazy Newb Pack". It provides a nifty GUI that lets you use different texture packs and change some settings that can improve enjoyment (cap population, remove aquifers, etc.)
If the labels are all incorrect, you would want to start with the one labelled with the drink you don't want. This would give you an initial chance of 75% of getting the drink you do want (.5 + .25). If you don't get it on the first press, then you would press the one labelled "random", as this would 100% be the drink that you do want.
Maybe in the short term, and to learn the basics/conversational Chinese, however I believe in order to fully and best understand the writing system it's still best to learn how to write the characters. Plus, the deliberate act of creating the characters stroke-by-stroke seems to better implant them in my brain more than just typing out some pinyin, but maybe that's just me. Spending 5-10 minutes writing a character helps me remember the meaning and shape of it much better than an hour doing pinyin/duolingo esque practice.
But I still probably can never see myself memorizing some of the more complex characters that even native Chinese folks have problems with :P
http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=126076.0