There is a lot of drivel written here quite obviously from people who have never flown a B737, have no real understanding of swept wing aerodynamics yet appear willing to pontificate on how the pilots should have gone back to basics etc etc. The MCAS system was built into the Max, no information was given to the pilots who then found themselves with a stabilizer so far out that essentially and eventually left zero elevator authority. Ambiguity for experienced 737 pilots would partly be due to the speed trim system which also operates independently of the pilots. I have the greatest sympathy for the pilots in these terrible accidents and not sure how I would have reacted. I usually avoid the willy waving but I have over 10,000 hours 737, mainly pic plus usual training qualifications. You 20/20 hindsight experts must be utterly brilliant of course.