After they infamously started going after clones, anything branded FTDI is automatically suspicious.

USB-serial adapters are not particularly special. Dozens of other manufacturers make them.

This was a huge own-goal for their brand image.

If I buy a FTDI based adapter, it might brick, and I lack the detection skill or supply chain control to be sure that it won't happen.

If I buy a CH340 or PLwhatever based adapter, that doesn't enter the calculus.

Unless I had some explicit "only FTDI can possibly do it" need, I'm going elsewhere.