I don't think the issue here is too much automation, or too wide a gap between manufacturing engineers and pilots.
I'm quite certain the engineers that designed and built MCAS screamed loud and clear years ago that the design was flawed relying on one AOA input, having no display for errors/activation, and for using a primary flight control surface to add some pressure to the yoke.
And I think it's obvious higher-ups overruled the grease monkey engineers and told them it would have to go in as it was, and yesterday, due to commercial pressures. I just hope those engineers have printed off copies of emails of being overruled, as the Engineers will be seen as disposable fodder and thrown under the wheels of the bus. They need insurance..
Just like Pilots get dispatch pressure to depart with a dodgy airplane/weather, so engineers get overruled on bad design.
G