Modern batteries integrate the charge controller with the cells, this allows to track the cell life and it allows the management of the chemistry.
Even small changes in chemistry require modifications in the charging algorithm. The only real solution for managing that is bundling the algorithm with the cells.
Setting the wrong configuration can definitely blow the cell up, or cause swelling.
Source: I did blow some cells while designing a battery pack for a portable device
Lithium-ion cells are one of the easiest to charge - there's minimum and maximum voltages, and a maximum charge current. Simply limit charge current to the maximum until the cell reaches its maximum voltage, and then wait for the current to drop until it's nearly 0.
Of course, exceeding those limits at the upper end certainly can result in flames, but it's seriously not that hard to charge a cell. But people like to spew plenty of FUD about "complex algorithms" and the like, because the companies who make the ICs stand to profit from that.
Source: I have also worked in electronics on battery-powered devices.
Yes, TI makes money when people use their battery management ICs with fancy cell monitoring, but I don’t see a lack of price pressure on those ICs. If manufacturers could implement the same features with a less complex, less expensive design, why would all of the modern battery systems, even in competitive sectors like consumer/retail electronics, integrate battery monitoring with the cells?
I don't think fast charging is a good idea anyway because it wears out cells faster, but that's another rant...