Nice but I prefer the much powerful version of 3 points being collinear precisely when ((p-q)^2 + (q-r)^2 - (p-r)^2)^2 = 4(p-q)^2(q-r)^2 which works for any field(!) with non-characteristics 2.
If they are non-collinear/degenerate then the difference becomes 16 * area^2 of the triangle PQR, in which case one can easily derive Heron's formula.
If they are non-collinear/degenerate then the difference becomes 16 * area^2 of the triangle PQR, in which case one can easily derive Heron's formula.