Part of the way that manufacturers convince customers that counterfeit chips are unacceptable is by pointing to a higher rate of glitches and failures. Perhaps

Part of the way that manufacturers convince customers that counterfeit chips are unacceptable is by pointing to a higher rate of glitches and failures. Perhaps FDTI wanted counterfeit chips to get an (at least partially undeserved) reputation for shoddiness rather than be seen as artificially refusing to work with counterfeits. I have no idea about the bricking though.