Airbus crash/training flight

[DC-ATE]

TyroPicard -

.....the other protections prevent the a/c getting to that AOA

Not looking for an Airbus FBW lesson here, but could you explain that a little further? Are Auto Throttles on all the time in 'normal'? If not and you close the throttles and try and hold altitude, what happens? Would the airplane just continue to oscillate down?