This was demonstrated to me when I did my command a bit over a decade ago. Still works now.
When you apply speed brake you increase VLS and Vsw (alpha SW). By lowering the speed brake you get more lift quicker than taking flap. If they didn't auto retract, the getting rid of the speed brakes would be one of the first actions of the stall recovery. But it's not even considered until you are out of the stall and have added thrust. Have you ever why?
The point being also, that if you need to hold pressure on the stick to maintain attitude in ALTN law, you are at very low speed and should be doing something about it.