I'm still hopting that this is a fixable software issue, but I've found a notice (not warning) in:
https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/PineNote#UART_Dongle
that the UART dongle must be plugged into the PineNote component side up because the connector is not wired to support both orientations. So I have to wonder whether inadvertantly plugging it in upside down might kill the USB port, leaving charging and UART capabilities intact.
https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/PineNote#UART_Dongle
Quote:The UART adapter is not symmetrically wired, make sure to orient it with the components oriented towards the screen!
that the UART dongle must be plugged into the PineNote component side up because the connector is not wired to support both orientations. So I have to wonder whether inadvertantly plugging it in upside down might kill the USB port, leaving charging and UART capabilities intact.