It is trivial to make your GPS receiver firmware ignore these limits. There are even open-source receivers (SwiftNav piksi, for example). Modifying a binary is much harder, but not impossible for a motivated state like Iran or Russia. It’s best to think of the COCOM limits as suggestions.

What’s newsworthy is that the cops didn’t shoot the dogs on sight

I’ll back you up, brother. Season 4 had some of the highest highs.

The Archer-Shran arc not only started to culminate (a 5th season would have fucking rocked) but was one of the best ways of telling the story of the early federation. The personal arc from enemies to allies demonstrated humanity forming alliances better than any other arc in Star Trek.