I'm not entering into the discussion other than to give some references by which anyone interested may gain some insight.
http://www.flightlab.net/pdf/5_Longi...cStability.pdf
http://www.flightlab.net/pdf/6_Longi...gStability.pdf
http://www.flightlab.net/pdf/7_Longi...cStability.pdf To sum for those who have little interest in going further,
Conventional handling qualities require that the aircraft c.g. lie ahead of the stick-free static neutral point. If c.g. lies on the neutral point stick forces are zero. If c.g. moves behind the neutral point, control forces reverse. A pull force becomes necessary to hold the aircraft in a dive; a push force becomes necessary in a climb.