it'll help a lot with shear failures between layers, but only very slightly with tensile failures between layers. and if i'm not mistaken, tensile failures are the bigger problem

crinkle crankle walls are that way to make them strong in flexure, so they don't just fall over when the wind hits them (failing in tension in the mortar joints between the bricks at the base on the windward side). that particular failure mode isn't relevant here because the other layers of the print already protect against that

It'd significantly increase surface area between the layers, wouldn't it? I can only imagine that makes for a lot better layer adhesion.

I like your idea.

And doing it only 2 or 3 layers in height shouldn't be out of reach for most FDM printers while adding significant strength I'd imagine.

But "I'd imagine" and "real world execution" are very different things!

Cnc kitchen did some tests on brick layers: https://www.cnckitchen.com/blog/brick-layers-make-3d-prints-...

He saw some strength gains, though not huge gains.