There is a bottom line in that conjecture, one I posted a very long time ago. It hasn't to do with competence of pilotage, but with common sense from the supposed brilliance of the design. "Just like a "Conventional" Aircraft", is buspeak for "Let's throw a bone." Arrogant.
Had the a/c STALLED earlier, without the authority of that monster slab, there would have been a great deal more energy retained, and the Nose would have fallen dramatically, imo.
Instead of MUSH, the pilots would have had at least one emphatic cue. Wait, let's make that two, with proper Buffet. Whether at that point the flight recovers is moot.
But it's worth an honest discussion.