Correction: there doesn't *have* to be the initialization data at the end of the chip, it's only needed if settings other than the defaults need to be used.

I have one more idea for you to try. The original FirmTek flasher actually includes an OS 9 version of the firmware update too. It's inside the .app folder. Have you tried booting into OS 9 and running that firmware updater program? It might identify the card using a different method.