Hello bearfoil:
The failure of 587's VS started at the aftermost right lug and rotated forward capturing each of the other lugs in sequence
Yes, the lugs failed. Only the lugs. The six clevis remained intact as did the entire hoop/frame/skin assembly of AA587's section 19.
An airload that could be responsible for the removal of 447's fin could be drag alone, in overspeed, with an overswept Rudder. Such drag would put a great load on the aft bracket downward into the fuselage, perhaps scrubbing the Rudders corner as it pressed down into the tail cone. If there were other stresses in 'concert' with drag, eg lateral and longitudinal, it would not surprise that the Fin may have failed sequentially, losing its joins 'gradually'.
So you are suggesting AA587's VS pulled up and off due to excessive side loads, but similar excessive side loads on AF447's VS pushed it down with enough force to work the clevis lugs apart from the frame hoops?
somehow a rather fragile structure as the fin survived 'unscathed' simply defies logic.
That's just silly -- the VS is far from a fragile structure!!!