If the crew was in such a rush that they didn't read their instruments properly, what were the chances they would pause and use CCTV cameras to check the aeroplane from the outside?
I suppose that depends on where the screens are, and whether real eyes prefer heads up or head down (psychologically speaking)... that is, a CCTV screen may present itself more in the heads up realm.
Is it not natural to (want to) have a look around the aircraft c.f. focus short in the cockpit on multiply diverse knobs, dials and intsruments...
Indeed, wasn't tghis just one feature of the trim-wheel.. not looked at, let alone noticed and responded too
You cannot keep ignoring the obvious.. there is something wrong with cockpit, systems and instruments, in a human interface fashion, when such obvious things as you say, are ignored, overlooked or found difficult... by all 3 crew (even in a crisis, indeed especially in a crisis which should have got that beady eye scan going quicktime!)