I´m very sorry for the crew.
Turbogy, what you describe all sounds familiar from my experience.
I´ve flown analog 737s, FBW ABs and the MD11.
Gusty x-wind landings on the MD11 were always more than a "challenge":
- Rudder displacement didn´t "match" necessary aileron inputs.
- RCWS was a pain during just about every approach.
- The overall "sluggishness" at high gross weights coupled with an extreme G-load sensitivity at the same time.
- nose-up aircraft reaction after spoiler deployment forcing you to actually push the nose down (great "feature" after a bounce!)
etc., etc.
The point is that you have to have all paramaters (pitch, pwr, speed) for a stabilized approach absolutely stabilized so much earlier than with other aircraft, that consequently in some weather conditions it might become effectively impossible to fly a "stabilzed" approach with this plane more so than with others...