Recovery from unusual attitudes has been a part of sim training of all (5) airlines for which I've flown, and I personally believe there is some value in them.
The object of the exercises is to ensure that the pf correctly recognises and applies immediate recovery technique.
The accident you have cited 411A had a lot to do with (i) the aircaraft being an Airbus, (ii) having a "plastic" vertical stabiliser, and (iii) the pf being "over zealous" in his application of rudder.