I have never flown an aircraft, mostly Boeings, that wouldn't fly just fine with all generator power gone and 30 minutes on the standby instruments then indefinately to destination once clear of weather. Losing an aircraft at FL350 because the pitot system froze up would not be an emergency. If you follow the crazy procedure of going into a 5 degree pitch up and climb power then you will soon get an overspeed. Everybody knows that. Maybe the PF forgot he went to alt rules and reacted as he did pitching up into an impossible 14 degree deck angle because he thought Airbus said you can't stall it so just pulled back and held it for over 3 minutes.
My personal experience is once you become a monitor of automation you gradually lose your hands on flying skills. I experienced it once going from the MD80 back to captain on the 737 200 which is a baby step compared to the AB. I never let it happen again once in the 757. I kept up my hand flying skills to be safe.