You wrote : " Where I asked the clearly stupid question: What were they even doing in the middle of a severe thunderstorm. I was just asking pertinent questions, IMO. "
but can you kindly (at least) read the final (actual) report :
http://www.bea.aero/fr/enquetes/vol....let2012.en.pdf
as it was an usual weather in the F.I.T where, from dozen of years, planes go through (and I went through by 1972 / 1978 on planes such as DC-10.30). Now I am an old retired one ....
for your information too, the final technical report is the one on the url (I put the English version for you) and there is a trial going on in France which will be before court in some months for this case.