737mgm
That would be another indication to either continue manually or at least try the other side. Finally he succeeded in turning the autopilot A on at 1000 Ft (for 33 seconds). Possibly Autopilot B would have worked since it seems like there was no false sensor indications on that side an MCAS would not have activated (speculation).
Based on the report the situation for ET302 was basically exactly the same as for Lion Air 610. Stick shaker right after Takeoff and then as the flaps were retracted MCAS started trimming the nose down.
There is a subtle but perhaps crucial difference between the flights. With Lion Air 610 the autopilot was never engaged, and MCAS activated as soon as the flaps retracted. With ET302 the autopilot was engaged before flaps were retracted, and remained engaged for a few seconds longer, during which time MCAS was inhibited. The trigger for MCAS activation was autopilot disengage, not flaps retraction.
Cognitively this is a very different situation, and focusing on why the autopilot disengaged may have been a distraction from the MCAS activation. Conversely flaps retraction is a non-event cognitively, and more attention could have been given to MCAS activation. I do not know whether any of this is relevant, but it is perhaps important to see the whole sequence of events.