Terminal Acceleration
At the end, 447 was not accelerating vertically, it was decelerating. If otherwise, the various velocities would have had to have had several different values, both positive and negative. Cabin pressure value at 1800 is a rate threshold, the actual rate could be much higher, and using this (hard point) datum can lead one astray, imo.
His low value of vertical velocity is ~ 96 mph. The high is ~150 mph. With only a slight rotation (per BEA) the value should be at the high range. With radial energy the value would be less, more like the 90-100mph. Can't have it both ways, and BEA seems to have gotten it backward
Likewise, 4:00 from cruise to impact means a cone of transmission that would need to be clear the whole four minutes. If spun, the ACARS would have been broken, perhaps for longer than mere loss of line, counting interrogation and recapture, No?
stand to be corrected, bear.