The question of whether the pilots could 'feel' the descent of 10,000ft/min is of interest.
In theory one should certainly feel the initialising of the descent but if theory holds good then once you are established in a descent at a steady rate, whether 1,000 or 10,000 ft/min your 'bum' would feel only1G, you could be in descent, level or ascending flight. This effect might be heavily compounded by the wing rocking and buffeting. Pure speculation, of course, but it might be conceivable that after indications of instrument failure you might ride the aircraft all the way to the sea while still thinking you were at 30,000 ft. Dark, no visibility, no horizon, can't trust the Altimeter, AH or ASI?
Just thinking out loud.