The 'sidestick v. Yoke' issue is surely a factor in this accident.
Maybe not the only factor, but a factor nonetheless that shouldn't be discounted.
The captain would surely have instinctively summed up the problem instantly, had he seen both yokes full aft.
I think most pilots would. Especially if he saw that yoke kept full aft for minute after minute.
I'm not an Airbus pilot, but who actually benefits from the use of sidesticks?
I don't see any benefit for the pilots, except when using that table.
Explain to me why a pilot should have a table in front of him instead of the controls.