BSB, I don't think he said anything about applying back-pressure on the control column. The term 'pulling out' of the dive is quite accurate, although as you state, in the normally trimmed situation you will not require much, if any back-pressure to regain straight and level attitude at the required rate.
In any case I don't think one would be overly concerned with whether they were pushing or pulling, they would simply use the controls as required to execute a smooth recovery to S & L.