There's a project I have in mind that will use a 1602 LCD panel but the space available is quite limited. All the displays I've seen are mounted on a PCB which makes them wider. Can one buy screens without the breakout board - ideally just an I2C cable?
something like
Still mounted on a board, though - something with all the circuitry hidden behind the actual screen would suit. Not to worry, it's for nothing important...