With regards to all of this hands on bull, the problem here was a failure to monitor the speed & thrust, I doubt that a hand on the thrust levers would have made a bit of diference.
I disagree, all the way through this thread I have been asking myself why a hand was not on the thrust levers. My company SOP is that a hand is on the yoke and thrust levers any time the aircraft is not in the fully clean configuration. It is a good SOP, it is basic airmanship and personally I believe that this accident would not have happened if the Flying Pilots hand was on the thrust levers. Many times in the 737 I give the A/T a little helping hand, particularly during turns onto finals where the airspeed decays a couple of knots.
This accident could have been prevented with better SOP's combined with better training and a better safety culture.....unless of course there is more to it, ie subtle incapacitation of the captain combined with a failure and an inexperienced F/O. We will find out eventually.