[WalterBright]

> There's no evidence MCAS upset looks exactly like runaway trim in every case

If uncommanded trim motor action is forcing the airplane into a dangerous dive, it's runaway trim. The pilots must have thought it was runaway trim as they were desperately trying to counter it.

> So I reject the categorical claim they could have recovered with the flip of a switch.

But that's what did happen with the previous LA flight that landed safely.

> it was the only way to get electric motor assisted trim to try and get out of the mistrim.

That's right.

> But MCAS immediately triggered again

The electric trim switches override the MCAS.

So why didn't the EA pilots do that override? I don't know, neither do you. We'll have to see what the NTSB report says.