Norwegian,
You are quite right about the MEL.Unfortunately though,the RA problem wasnt reported so the dispatch of the aircraft was never subject to the MEL.Did other crews verbally warn this crew of the problem?If so,then the MEL should have been consulted.The MEL issue will figure bigtime in the report.
MSAW;not applicable here for obvious reasons as already pointed out.
Or less subtly, the automation could be given the authority to invoke TOGA and place the aircraft on a pre-programmed missed approach procedure without human intervention.
You might want to rethink that one.It sounds crazy to me.But maybe the Airbus people will take you up on it.