Brian,
Seems some confusion crept in there, when I included this:
It appears the process of raising the nosewheel for the purpose of load reduction and not lift off is sanctioned.
It is my own statement, at no time did I intend to claim that it IS what the FAR Criteria stated.
I concluded that based on this:
is the speed at which the pilot makes a control input, with the intention of lifting the airplane out of contact with the runway or water surface.
You have not read carefully what I have written, raising the nose before Vr, intiated past Vmcg/a and at a lower weight Vr is NOT an action that it is outside the written criteria, at least based on what we have seen so far.
Do not get emotive about this, raising the nose wheel is intiated at a speed the same or higher than the POH approved Vr speed all be it for a lower weight. The reason the Vr speed is higher with the higher weight is due Vs requirement not assymetric issues.
Incidently this technique is extensivly outlined in John C Ekelbars great book "Flying High Performance Single and Twins. Strongly endorsed by John Deakin as well. Suggest you have a read.