As I read the article, it seemed like before, step 1 would suffice before. If this is not the case with MCAS, it could at the very least throw the pilot's diagnostics. "Is it runaway stabilizers? Well, no response from holding the control column firmly so I guess not. Lets check other things".

Sure, the correct response is to follow the checklist, but should we really rely on pilots always knowing the correct response? Especially when that goes against their previous experience? Not that I am defending these pilots not knowing the checklists, instead I am arguing we should take into account learning from experience rather than theory.