but found that it doesn't like the switch being based on long strings coming thorough serial. Seems Switch can deal with bytes and integers.
SWITCH can deal with anything you throw at it. It is just another form of IF. Getting long strings through the serial connection is a little more complicated. If the strings are just for the purpose of choosing between CASE options then it makes sense to keep them short as - single characters if possible. Remember that "pleaseLetTheElephantsHaveWater" doesn't convey any more information to a computer than "E" or "W".
...R