Doesn't angle of attack stability really mean maneuver stability (no matter how you spell it).
Static stability is the tendency of the aircraft to return to the original trim condition when an disturbance has been encountered and then removed.
Stick force and stick position are two different measures of this. With an irreversible flight control system (i.e. all hydraulically boosted) there is no difference between the two stabilities as the forces on the cockpit control must be artificially generated. With a reversible flight control system, stick free stability is what you get when you release the stick forces (as the friction in the system may prevent the stick from returning to the original trim condition). When you place the stick back at the original condition, that is stick fixed stability.
Confused?? Try teaching this to test pilots and flight test engineers!!!