Whilst I agree with you that training which properly incorporates CAPS into emergencies handling is vital, calling this pull "ridiculous" is, well, ridiculous.
The mistake had already been made when the pilot decided to pull. If he hadn't pulled he would have died. Whatever went before, the final decision to pull was a good one.
If as the safety board indicated the pilot relied on autopilots and was incapable of hand flying then the ridiculous was not referring to pulling the CAPS but to being there in the first place and I don't change my stance on ridiculous! ! Thank God he had a CAPS to pull. The CAA have also noted a problem in their conclusions on the accident over the channel.
Pace