MechEngr The 10 second time limit is for when a pilot ignores the increasing angle of attack and increasing control force and continues to pull the wheel farther back,
I have not seen anything stating that the MCAS paid any attention to pilot input. The length of the MCAS trimming appears to be solely determined by Mach and altitude. Lower altitude, close to ten seconds. Nice try on blaming the pilots again, though.
MechEngr A pilot should take the hint and stop pulling all the way to stall unless they are really dedicated to it because that mountain isn't budging...
The pilots of neither airplane got anywhere close to a stall...and in fact were pulling with all their might because the 'mountain' (rising terrain, ocean) wasn't budging.
Strike two.