They've stated publicly they made it easy to get around.

Did they do it on launch, or just after it was widely publicized that bypassing their paywall is laughably easy?

Edit: Afterwards. I'd be more inclined to believe them if they had said it from the start.

"This easy trick, known to every college student, led some to deride the Times as a technological tyro. People in the news industry, however, say the Times deliberately chose to make the paywall “leaky” so as not to alienate casual visitors."

http://paidcontent.org/2013/02/11/new-york-times-plugs-big-l...

"While critics say the gaps highlight flaws in the newspapers' new business model, the Times says the holes are deliberate and meant to encourage openness across the Internet."

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/paywall-york-times-readers-...

Also remember reading a couple quotes by NY Times execs/spokespeople that it was intentional.