@notahacker was not talking about the original MCAS, but about the patch to it -- the modifications now under development to fix the problems.
This is possible in aviation but is typically only done fighter jets where you have vectored thrust, massive control surfaces, and an ejection seat if things go wrong.
If your goal is safety, software-based stability is a very poor design. I think there's a decent chance the MAX won't be re-certified without physical design changes.