"Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the the FBW enter direct
law below 50' (or so) AGL?"
Eh no. The airbus will at flare start to automatically lower the nose a couple of degrees to give you some kind of artificial feel when you start pulling back on the stick.
If you due to some system redundancies are in alternate law the moment your gear is selected down you will then be in direct law.
TFCM