Is it possible to load code using a USB-TTL directly to D0, D1 pins?

Official Hardware Nano Family Nano Matter
1

I had a look at the Nano Matter and apparently it uses ATSAM-D11-D14A-MUT as USB-Bridge,
As far as I understood its function is to be used as USB-TTL to MGM240's UART.
I'm asking myself some questions :

  1. Why using a so sophisticated chip (ATSAMD) for a such simple function ? Wouldn't be FT232RL simpler ?
  2. Wanting to upload code without the ATSAMD, could I use a USB-TTL connected directly to Nano Matter D0 and D1 pins ?