Defend the SS as much and as fervently as you want (by the way, I actually liked it if it had drive back). With the yoke however, the last xx years there has never been confusion as to what the buddy next to you was exerting and there has never been a false switch mount.
Airbus has invented these phenomenons.
Now as to how much it has contributed to this accident, it's up to interpretation, but it does not bode away that it might have contributed.
I have learnt from all my instruction and experience, that in aviation operation, and that is what pilots do and engineer should do, you should strive to eliminate each and every hole, even the remotest potential hole, in the Swiss cheese.
By staying in denial, you just disqualify yourself as safety driven professional.