Natstrackalpha
Taking some of your points in turn:
the crew were unaware of the att
You have zero, absolutely zero evidence of this. It is extremely unlikely that the attitude indication was affected and the report offers no evidence to suggest it was.
MUST be a get you out of trouble card.
There is. Its flying power and attitude.
a red button returned everything to direct law immediately
How would this have improved anything. I think the difference between alternate and direct is a red herring. If you are flying too high an attitude it makes no difference if you are in alternate or direct law. Plus. Its as easy to fly an improper attitude in direct as it is in alternate.
a standby altimeter that is working
A standby altimeter would be subject to the same limitations or effects as the main ones. They have a standby altimeter. So what would another one gain you.
Likewise a standby attitude indicator, all appeared to be working, they had a standby and what would another one add?