Thanks to Chris and JD-EE
Trying to look at this through inexperience eyes, and with as little speculation as possible, another few questions:
ACARS Timings: are they accepted as mirroring the duration of the event?
(As in from first signs to or near impact - if any doubt - 'no')
If above is 'yes' then is it accepted the aircraft went very rapidly from normal flight to rapid descent?
Weather: is this ABSOLUTELY determined to be THE or merely a contributory factor?
The Aircraft:
As the commander has final authority for the safety of the aircraft - we have no indication of diversion or messages RECEIVED (or sent) regarding any such action. Regardless - is this in any way relevant to events? (That is IF a turn was implemented, or an intentional descent would this have ANY material bearing on events in terms of any contribution - or if it is a concurrent event demanded by the situation is it irrelevant to the outcome?)
Crew awareness: Assuming all crew alert - and weather a factor - is there any relevance to saying the crew 'should' have noticed via weather radar any anomolies, or were the general conditions not a factor of concern until 'too late'? (That is, there was no reason to be concerned and possibly no way to know what lay ahead?)
Finally: assuming rapid descent - again irrespective of the ACARS messages - if the pilots had a non respoding aircraft - there are obviously countless variations on the theme - but the question would seem to boil down to;
Is there a possibility or indication of 'loss of control'?
If control was lost or reduced - what is MORE responsible - mechanical action (by ice or any other damage) - or the Airbus computer system?