For me, the supposition that aft stick at a/p release was inadvertent was put to bed long ago. I have to give a minimum amount of credit to PF, and I do believe still the a/c required aft stick as well as Roll left at drop.
An aircraft in an updraft will drop her nose, and in a downdraft, the reverse. By herself, it is basic to the geometry of the architecture. I could not tell you whether or how much attention was paid that fact by the software, (DOZY?). But in this a/c, if in an UP with the kind of energy I believe was in play, her Nose wanted down on the natch. The a/p may have "known" this, but it would not have abated at a/p quit. This may have been a major player in the PF's insistence on Nose UP, when in fact, Nose Down would be needed. Nose down is also contrary to g demand in PITCH, and the PF may have had help in Pitching this mama UP. NO?