mcavic - 9:21 pm on Feb 17, 2010 (gmt 0)

However, most examples in English grammar with acronyms call for each letter to be said individually.

That is true, except for those acronyms that everyone agrees sound better when pronounced as a word. I would venture to say that when in doubt, it's safer to spell it. For example, if I said N-A-S-A, you'd be able to figure out what I was talking about. If I said "See Uh" (CIA), you'd have no idea.

Pronouncing an acronym that's meant to be spelled always sounds worse to me (including Earl, although I realize that's accepted).