FlightDetent -
"I like (so far) the tone of the thread. My opinion is that it DID matter. Rods/pulleys have no check valves or sort. FBW may, as per individual design. Pilot error forcing A/C to go out of certified envelope is mitigable on FBW w/ protections.
Could Cali CFIT had been avoided through last-stop measure of some SW logic auto-retracting speedbrakes when TO/GA thrust is set?"
Indirectly, you are correct. But I suspect a pilot could make a mistake on a FBW aircraft as well with the same results. I don't have the Cali report.