A lot of very technical, knowledgeable and insightful posts on the various systems and dynamics involved in these aircraft.
For the want of covering old ground, and not being nearly as knowledgeable as some others, there remains one question in my mind. I know that in alternate law there is a power + attitude configuration that will restore stable cruise (I believe 82% thrust and 5deg nose up...or something similar). I'm also led to believe that this is well versed in training / sim time. So why were they deviating from the 'norm' with different AoA and power settings? Why not revert to what is taught, and stabilise the aircraft within the known parameters? Surely setting power and attitude to known values is quite easy?
Seems the logical thing to do, for my part, and when I flew aircraft and everything turned to jelly I reverted to basics, and it saved my skin more than once!