Thanks! --flash_mode=dout did the trick! I now got the MicroPython prompt!

I found this page after getting a similar experience with a new Sonoff TX T2EU1C switch that arrived today from China. I wanted to put Micropython on it, which is my prefered software that I use for most of my esp8266 and esp32 chips around the house. I soldered wires to G,VCC,TXD, and RXD. By temor...