All kinds of vermin attack cantaloupes from the bottom. Any type of short can as you have discovered works pretty well upside down. I just use scrap lumber cut into 4 X 4 or larger tiles. Works fine, but my melons don't move around. Surprise. Honeydews do fine without ground separation.

The trouble with tiles for me is also that they get dirty. Soil piles up on them. But yes, I am grateful for your observation that honeydews don't need ground separation. I grew them last year, and enjoyed how little work they were. I always thought the trick to short cans for canteloupe was using them open-side up. But, as I said, that's got problems. If used open-side down, I really think you need some holes to avoid (small) puddling.

Puddling not a problem here. Not a lot of rain and the heat dries it up in short order. Any irrigation done with drip or soak.

I use to use the little green baskets that the strawberries came in from the market.

Unfortunately, I do overhead watering and, especially in the spring, overhead water from the sky is common. For me, puddling is a constant danger.

The basket idea is a good one. I have to suspect the little green ones would, however, degrade pretty fast with the UV. They're pretty delicate. That they are flexible means that they won't cut into the melon as it grows. Flexible metal baskets?

I probably sound like a broken record but if you have pine trees nearby a hand full of pine needles tucked underneath each melon does the trick for me to keep them high and dry off of the soil. The needles dry out quickly after rains. I'll usually wait until their about the size of an egg before lifting them up slightly to place a 2" thick mattress of pine needles under each one. Happy Harvest!

I guess i should have said two baskets together for a bit more strength. They always lasted the season for me..

Use pantyhose, kneehighs or an old tshirt to tie the fruit up like a hammock (tie up each end & nestle the fruit in the middle)