[xone]

I had been under the impression that the 737 max was fly by wire.

It is, but that system can be turned to the OFF position and it won't effect the flight further. Helps that the two crashes it is blamed in had about 500 hours total experience in the cockpit.

[6AL-4V]

The 737 is NOT fly by wire. It has cables between the control column and rudder pedals, and the flight control surfaces.