I think BEA's conclusion that this was pure pilot error is indeed oversimplifying but:
Executing manoeuvers to test critical envelope protections at altitudes where failure of these protections leads inevitably to a crash comes pretty close to the defintion of reckless.
Would more altitude have made sure they would not crash in the given scenario:
No
Did the altitude they peformed it in make the crash inevitable:
Likely Yes.
Moreover, the rushed test caused a rather quick approach of Alpha_Floor. This left insufficient time to notice and properly react to Alpha_floor not activating.
During proper test flights approach to Alpha_Floor is done slowly.
Due to the fact that there is quite some margin left to Alpha_Max this normally leaves sufficent time to properly react to such a situation.
This is the reason there are normallly detailed procedures for these kind of tests which reflect the technical dependencies and margins behind which cannot always be derived from pure gutt feeling.
I think in the first place it was indeed important to highlight the piloting aspect of this accident.
This should however not exclude to have a look at the techincal issues in a more detailed analysis