Re: Hey software, get the fuck out of the way!
Actually, the issue here is that the pilots were not properly trained on the MCAS -- Boeing added that system to the 737MAX but didn't make a big deal about it (or indeed any deal about it) -- so much so that other 737MAX pilot groups are furious! That's "furious" as in writing letters to the FAA about it... The three big unions representing 737 operators in the US (Southwest, American and United) have all responded with anger towards Boeing.
The issue is that *if* you know about MCAS, you can defeat it's "help". If you don't, you have no idea why your airplane is constantly trying to put it's nose down.
All indications are that Lion Air's pilots (and those of Southwest, American and United) did not know, and have not been trained on or practiced with MCAS, let alone MCAS failure modes.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
