bonjour, mm....
Your quote,
"By the time the Capt returned the majority of the THS NU had occurred, but like the other two, he probably never looked at its position or noticed that it was in the final stages of its movement."
That requires a suspension of disbelief such that even I am challenged to entertain it....
So let me ask you the hypothetical question that Dozy inartfully dodged.
Say it is so, and the crew were virtually ignorant of the controls.
If the only Pitch inputs available had been small manual 'trim only' excursions, do you not think the crew would grok this trim at Auto/loss?
If, without any airdata, (computer selects Alternat 2b), the a/c required pitch inputs, the fact that the THS is limited to three degrees NU would have completely eliminated the possibility of zoom, and STALL.
The controls Law architecture seems on the one hand to be mindful of PITCH in DIRECT LAW, but relies completely on ELEVATOR PLUS THS in an emergent and handling environment very touchy, when it should be MINIMAL.
IOW, without airdata, the need for very cautious PITCH input is clear, seemingly tailor made for DL PITCH, but it does not go there, it stops short, and allows the type of misdirected SS inputs.
IN DIRECT, the SS is abandoned (pitch axis), perfect for UAS, but goes to the vulnerable AL2 instead.
AIRBUS had the foresight to provide for careful PITCH work in DIRECT, suitable for UAS, but in the actual UAS condition, it allows 'mayonnaise'.
Qu' est-ce que c'est?
Merci bon chance