CToast:
Thanks for the links. I was actually looking at the FT232 modules earlier, but was scared away that they advertise they don't use genuine chips. I plan to mostly be in Linux this summer, so I don't think that should be much of an issue anyway, though.
If using Linux (Mint), none of the USB-serial chips will be a problem; they just work.
On principle - the "cowboy" behaviour described above - I simply would not use any FT-232, real or counterfeit. It simply is not necessary when there are three excellent alternatives, usually just as cheap.
