The pitch-up is on every Airbus with FBW. Since they are trying to keep 1 g (earth accelleration), they always want to give you some extra g. On bigger altitudes, g is lower as it is in other parts of the world.
As an airline pilot I have to give you the advise: Hand flying is a good thing, but not until cruise altitude. Apart from being illegal concerning RVSM, you are moving much too close to the cuffin corner. It's good airmanship to let him fly from around Mach transition.
While in my company it is 100 ft...
Dani