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.
USB-serial adapters are not particularly special. Dozens of other manufacturers make them.
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.
I am not nearly sophisticated enough as an end user to spot a counterfeit FTDI usb-to-serial device so I am not going to risk buying that brand and end up with their drivers intentionally bricking the device.