...minimal throttle input (should be barely spinning), it ramps up and up and up.
I haven't tried flying it yet because it seem simply wrong to me.
That technique of 'testing' anything is 'simply wrong' from the *FC's* point of view.
I'm assuming this is on the bench with no props attached, correct?
The FC when armed does pretty much nothing till given throttle.
As soon as the throttle is touched the FC's main job is to maintain a level attitude (in attitiude mode.) Or in rate mode change the vehicle's attitude to match the rate requested.
The FC does these things by increasing and decreasing the RPM of the *MOTORS*.
However with no *PROPS* mounted the vehicle can't move.
The FC thinks to itself... "I tried to [do something.] I varied the motor RPM but that seemed to have no effect on the vehicle's attitude. What to do?? APPLY MORE RPM!!"
Aaaand no matter how much RPM the FC applies to any of the motors it never experiences and joy.
These tests sitting on the bench (or held in hand) with no props has a couple of useful purposes, but not what you're doing. Or not what you think the FC should do.
It's good for making sure motors turn in the right direction.
Held in hand and tipping to different directions it's useful to make sure the correct motors speed up or slow down to get the desired attitude/motion change.
But those tests are good for only a few seconds. The FC pretty quickly realises that it doesn't -really- have control over the vehicle's attitude or motion, and in a fit of childish pique eventually spins all the motors up to max. Which after a minute or so should burn them out.