bearfoil
I think she didn't spin. Besides the constant com via ACARS, the Vertical Stabilizer could not have sustained that load. A spin would involve too much immediate roll to deal with as well.
It might be different in heavy metal, but my expierience concerning loads is another one.
In a spin there must not be a lot of load on the VS. In a spin there is a corksqrew flightpath with simultaneous yaw, roll and turn and high descent rate. The uneven stalled wings will produce the yaw, the following load on the VS will cause the rolll, both together keep the system turning. The forces are not hitting it broadside, to tell it simple it is the only part still aerodynamically effective. The load is only higher during entry and recovery. It is also noticable in the cockpit (have done spins myself in T-37 Trainer), the spin itself is not that uncomfortable, the entry and exit is.
franzl