Hi..
Last night when i was browsing arround i stumbled upon this seemingly old project: http://www.cesko.host.sk/IgorPlugUSB/IgorPlug-USB%20(AVR)_eng.htm (or at Atmel: http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/doc2556.pdf )
Has anyone ever considered this as a cost effective replacement for the FTDI chip? As i read this it came to my mind that with a small attiny it would be possible to totally get rid off the ftdi and hence make a USB Arduino solderable by hand (well, even for people like me.. with experience the ftdi should be doable as well ;0)) and maybe a bit more cost effective (i think an Attiny is less expensive than a FTDI?)
Or are there problems i totally not see? (well i think DTR wasnt wrapped which would be bad as it is needed for the auto-reset).