Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for technology that programs a first plurality of error correction codewords to a first set of pages in a block of non-volatile memory, wherein the first plurality of error correction codewords are programmed at a first density. The technology may also program a second plurality of error correction codewords to a second set of pages in the block, wherein the second plurality of error correction codewords are programmed at a second density. The first density and the second density are different from one another.