The first DS mode flashcards were much more expensive than the 3DS mode flashcards are. DS-X cost 120€ back then and the other cards were similar (a bit cheaper).In 2007, the original DS and the Lite were hacked to the point it could run literally anything if you could:
yet the platform was supported until at least 2011 (2012 if you consider Black/White 2 as original games, which IMO they should)!
- afford an investment of half the price of a 3DS flashcard (which also worked on every firmware)
- be computer literate enough to copy and paste files