This is not a pio specific flash issue. It’s the same with for example the tasmota web installer (based on esphome web installer).
I can flash this board with esptool but I MUST set NO before reset. And I must get it into programming mode by holding gpio 0 down at power up for 5 secs.
I think pio and the esphome webinstaller both do this because they assume the board can be automatically put into program mode and this is why there is the issue.
It’s hard enough just to get the thing into programming mode to start. I think that’s a design issue I can’t fix. Other lolin mini boards can be put into programming mode “automatically” but not this one.
I have a handful of them luckily not hundreds as there appears no fix.