Conf,
Where are your data ekwhistleblower ?
The NTSB concludes that the captain’s difficulty maintaining his intended airspeed during the final approach resulted in high AOAs, which contributed to the difficulties in flaring the airplane, the high descent rate at touchdown, and the fuselage damage.
The airplane’s airspeed in the last 150 feet of the descent was low enough to activate the alpha-protection mode of the airplane’s fly-by-wire envelope protection features. The captain progressively pulled aft on the sidestick as the airplane descended below 100 feet, and he pulled the sidestick to its aft stop in the last 50 feet, indicating that he was attempting to raise the airplane nose to flare and soften the touchdown on the water.
Not criticising just looking at the facts. Because speed had not been maintained to allow for a flare, the aircraft effectively flew into the water without the pitch axis under control. In the bus if you back stick it with power it max performs, with no power it sets maximum AoA and goes splash! You can argue all you like that it is in controlled flight but effectively it is on the cusp of a stall with no opportunity to improve the situation, a bit like a carrier landing.