Great to see a head down tail up thread ...
Some thoughts ..
..and bank angle into the good engine ..
.. and, indeed, away from the good engine(s). Be very aware that the effect is non linear and, for the adverse bank case, can see the real world Vmca propelled into the stratosphere .. scratching into the memory here but I seem to recall something in the vicinity of a 34kt increase for a old, many-engined bomber for the 5 deg adverse bank case ?
.. Is this the lowest weight for which certificated performance data have been developed ..
Think of it from the other side of the table .. the minimum for which the applicant has elected to show compliance .. hence a limitation.
.. I've not seen instructors enforce the 5 degrees..
Note that the 5 deg is a certification limit (mainly to prevent excessively enterprising endeavours to reduce Vmc) and is relevant mainly at/near the Vmc situation. It is not particularly relevant for general OEI climb .. for this more general case, a somewhat lesser bank angle is appropriate to remove sideslip. Presuming that the "dynamic" Vmc case is more critical than the "static" (and this need not necessarily be the case), the hapless pilot who might permit himself to be caught out might get very embarrassed if he chooses not to use some bank (and rapidly) into the good engines .. the real world effect of bank on Vmca is significant.
.. isn't published VMC calculated with the following criteria ..
It would be better if you read your regs before posting words purporting to be indicative of regs .. think "worst case" and revisit your schedule. Subject to the normal caveat that one needs to pick the regs appropriate to the particular Type's certification basis .. the present FAA rules (25.149) suggest (we could put a few more qualifications on presumptions but the main concern is) ..
(c)(4) The maximum sea level takeoff weight (or any lesser weight necessary to show VMC)
(c)(5) .. except with the landing gear retracted.
.. banked 5 degrees into the operative engine (or perhaps wings level?) ..
If the OEM so chose .. but I would be very surprised. The OEM's aim is to minimise Vmc and wings level doesn't do that ...