If the H/V curve was an operational limitation, then surely it would be in the "Limitations" Section of the Flight Manual?
I simply use it as a guide for any height/airspeed combo to be able to say to myself "At this combo I should be able to land OK if the power fails, but at this combo I might hit hard" and of course stay out of it if possible.
Back to the original thread, I can dig the left crosswind thing for giving you a bit more power at the bottom, albeit with a bit more yaw instability.
But if your shooting an approach with a left crosswind, presumably its to clear obstacles, and I'm not sure if I agree with the benefit of having the nose yaw further left into wind should the power fail in that situation. Wouldn't you then be totally crossed up to your original approach path with nowhere to go, if it happened on short final? I can't really see the benefit of that, personally I'd rather still be vaguely pointing at the orginal landing area I'm committed to, rather than sideways, if I'm going down. Just a thought.