Also, I believe a good portion of the cryptosystems around DES's time were intentionally crippled to meet export restrictions so that they were not classed as m

Also, I believe a good portion of the cryptosystems around DES's time were intentionally crippled to meet export restrictions so that they were not classed as munitions. So it would not be so much to say that the cyphers were weak insomuch as they were defective by design.