What the Langewische and Vanity Fair article highlights will not be found in any accident report. It's also what makes it so interesting. And that is that French pilots are predominantly from the upper classes, well educated and from "good" and respected families high up in academia. All the pilots on AF447 were graduates from prestigious schools. Something they share with many Southern European, Asian or Middle Eastern airlines. Rich kids, basically. Rich kids who might be there simply because it was expected of them, or it maintains their social status, not necessarily because they're great pilots or have a passion for flying.
This is not the case in the US, Canada, UK and northern Europe. There's a fundamental difference there. And it is possible that it could have played a big part in the outcome...