I am not a "fly by wire" man.
What I find disturbing is I have heard from informed sources is this.
"If the computers are knocked out by e.g., a voltage surge or spike, the crew are unable to control the aircraft."
The Titanic? Hmmm... Hasn't it been stated by ABI's the A380 is "uncrashable"? Maybe they might take this opportunity to amend that statement, that reeks of arrogance, a little.
What happens if the mechaincal linkages in a non FBW plane fails? or the control column...
It's similar situation, the things that control the hydraulics can get knocked out either way, however, I would agree there is probably a greater chance that something will go wrong with a complicated computer and electronics than a relatively simple mechanical system....
With the reasons for the crash/disappearance I certainly do not know enough to come up with a solid ideas on what happened... I think that the parties involved are holding alot back from the public...
BTW, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the whole point in the 406MHz ELTs to allow rescuers to find them easier... Did it not work or something?