This is my first post (nice to be here). I live in Halifax and work at the airport in a regulatory capacity.
As to the thought that a "non-ski-jump" berm might have been a contributing factor in the tragic accident, is it not correct that the lowest part of the aircraft should have been a minimum of 35 feet above any obstacle at the end of the takeoff run (including clearway, as appropriate)? Canadian runways have very strict design criteria. I really do not think that the location, nor angle of the base of the berm, should be considered as a pertinent factor.
SimBoy