I would suggest Lovell is closer to the mark than some accept. If the Co-Pilot had ceased holding the Stick hard against the Aft Stop and let the airplane accelerate.....or at the outset of the situation just not done a thing but maintain Attitude and Power setting....none of the sad bit would have occurred. At some point we have to accept that Pilots in advanced aircraft shall have to apply basic piloting skills no matter what the AFCS/Flight Director/Autopilot is telling the aircraft to do. Whether Lovell was correct or was incorrectly quoted by the Reporter is also something that needs to be considered before you criticize the Man.
If you watch any accurate re-enactment of the sequence of events that took place on AF447....you would understand the value hand flying skills and proper analysis of indications and selecting the correct response has on one's survival.
"Thinking" and its value cannot be over emphasized as a precursor to acting. Acting without properly thinking through one's planned actions and the ramifications of improper actions of course cannot be overrated either.