"Aerospatiale claimed it was a design feature to prevent pilots overstressing the aircraft"
Call it that, I don't necessarily disagree with the BS call, but note that there is a 40 bar pressure relief valve built into the Gazelle's hydraulic pack. If excessive system forces cause that pressure to be exceeded, the PRV will open. Increasing (feedback) loads on the servo jacks reduce the rate of their movement from 5"/sec at nil load to 2"/sec at 300 lbf. At 380 lbf, jack stall occurs.