WikEd has a "toggle automatic improved diff" button (to the right of the WikEd off/on button, in the edit screen). It highlights the diff'd chars in a new screen below the normal diff screen...that is, even when you're not in an edit screen. Yay. It even works when WikEd is turned off, i.e., is not the default edit screen. (For anyone who hasn't tried it out yet, WikEd is one of the gadgets in user preferences.)