EXWOK,
On Bellerophon's picture, it looks as if the FWD bug on the Mach meter is still at about M=2.2.... and just the barber pole at about M=2.04 as you would expect.
At that exact point in the picture I think he just hit his head against the ceiling... (FL600) but could still stay there a bit more.
Doesn't change any of your other comments, though.
CJ