Recently, someone asked for a smaller prime of only 512-bits for speed. This is more than enough for the strength of keys needed for DES, 3DES, MD5 and SHA. Perhaps this would be easier to have more complete and robust verification as well.

Depending on what you think of the strength of those algorithms, the 512-bit mod p system may not be strong enough. The *strength* of 512-bit mod p DH systems is only about 56 bits. You need 1024-bit primes for a *strength* of 80 bits. In contrast, the 155-bit elliptic curve in the Photuris draft has a strength of about 76 bits.