Machinbird: The F-16 deep stall was/is a consequence of it's intentionally unstable aerodynamics - the FBW allowed this to work for the aircraft, but those wily pilots found ways to get the aircraft into attitudes that were beyond the design curve. As "gums" can better recount certain flight techniques and changes to the systems were made to assist recovery if you did get the aircraft in a deep stall. I don't think a Viper deep stall has much to do with AF44, except to illustrate that FBW laws and protections can be exceeded - however, again I do not subscribe that was the case here.