Originally Posted by
OK465
...the only thing that can be stated for sure is that with the SS on the aft stop, pilot input to the FCS is taken out of the picture.
I'm a little reticent to contradict you, as I'm aware of your knowledge and experience - but I'm a little unsure about that statement. As far as I know, with the SS on the aft stop, pilot input is very much *in* the picture, it's just that the input is commanding the maximum until the SS is moved forward or released...
CONF is correct in stating that Alpha Max
"...is an AoA that the FCS maintains at the fixed value Airbus decided to adopt depending on the configuration", but before the value can be maintained, it must be *attained*, and, if I read things correctly, the rate of attainment of that value will clearly be affected by other aspects, for example the phugoid damping if already in High AoA Protection mode.