Lightroom :: Creating Virtual Copy To Get Text Element Of NxN Image

I sometimes use a trick of creating a virtual copy to get a text element of a NxN image. For example, I might use 8 images for a 3x3 and need a fourth "image" (i.e., column 1, row 2) for text. I like to take image 3 and make a virtual copy, then get that looking the way I want as my text box. When I print, I don't have to create a collection to order my images as long as the sequence-taken, along with the text box in position 4, is okay. I guess in LR 3, the virtual copy sorted after the original.
 
Well, I just tried the trick and the virtual copy comes before the original. I still wanted to shy away from creating a collection, so played another trick - I used the option to change the capture time under the Library module's Metadata menu, and bumped the text box up 1 second later. But the sort hasn't changed! I even forced a reconsideration of the sort by changing from capture time sort to added time sort, then back again.
 
Though I'm being "devious" here, it does seem to not be working correctly. Maybe sorting ignores metadata of virtual copy images?