in light of the new video:
a couple of ideas in light of the new video:
is it possible that the mx staff pulled the wrong circuit breaker while placing whatever system on "mel", somehow disabling the flap/slat/takeoff configuration warning system, and that the pilots somehow didn't set the flaps/slats properly? (think detroit)
is it possible that the engine power was not properly set to desired thrust?
did the pilots, when faced with problem, firewall the throttles?
a takeoff stall recovery is firewall power/slats/flaps 15 (or in the md 80, to the dial a flap detent I think)