I explained above about how the book was borderline in sales, holding above cancellation levels even if only barely, and how the controversy was certainly damaging to what sales it had and may have been the determining factor that got it axed.
As to your specific criticisms, first off, I'll remind you that Brood have tentacles for arms. They have since their first appearance in what, the late 70s? The Brood was used as a "scary alien monster" to threaten the group. THAT is why there were tentacles there. The Unnamed Brood was one of the characters in the crossover that were being used as antagonists in the storyline, and so depicting her as threat on the cover was perfectly legitimate.
The rest of it, from the female characters being front and center to them being displayed provocatively to them looking vulnerable, was for a simple purpose: to make the viewer feel sympathy for them and worry for their safety. The idea was "look, pretty women in trouble, read the book to find out if they make it out ok!". You may disagree with the tactic, but it's intent is to make you care about the characters. And it's not something male characters are immune to, either. That's what deathtrap covers always do, they're a cheap emotional hook to grab the reader's attention and make them want to know what happens. The emphasis on the attractiveness and vulnerablity of the heroines was just one more layer to the emotional hook the cover was going for.
It's intent was NOT to denigrate the characters, or to imply that they were to be sexually assaulted. It's intent was to make you worry about them. Again, you may disagree with that, but aim your critique at what's actually there rather than what you've chosen to read into it.
Oh, and for the record, they did make it out ok. Except for their book getting cancelled, of course. Shame about that one.