I'd like to let you know that I successfully programmed the above
chip using a ft2232 based "TUMPA" interface card.  I've programmed
two chips on two separate boards, but worked fine and booted

Linux.

I did get one  "get_buf failed: 1
ftdi_write_data: -19, usb bulk write failed
send_buf failed at end: 1
FAILED."

Error, but that probably has nothing to do with the MX25L12805(D) chip.