Sorry to jump in late on this but I thought it's worth saying that this is not just the same old "can I operate outside the max demonstrated x-wind?" discussion - re-read the original quote from gcolyer's operating manual which said ...
"The maximum allowable crosswind velocity is dependent upon pilot capability rather than airplane limitations. With average pilot technique, direct crosswinds of 15 MPH can be handled with safety."
There is no suggestion here of a "max demonstrated" x-wind, the statement does not, as BackPacker asserts, suggest that a factory pilot has demonstrated the aircraft's capability of landing in a 15Kt x-wind (although one can infer that it is likely he did). It simply states that "with average pilot technique, direct crosswinds of 15 MPH can be handled safely".
So, leaving aside the "can I operate outside the max demonstrated x-wind?" issue (I believe that one can and, like Bose-x I do). The wording from the book gives carte blanche to operate with any crosswind the pilot thinks fit!
I'd say that, if you approach it sensibly and develop your ability by working up through progressively stronger x-winds and perhaps using an instructor, you can use any x-wind limit you feel comfortable with. Indeed, if you were to crash you could probably claim against Cessna who said that the aircraft has no limit!
It's important to read the statements in the POH carefully and not to read into them anything which is not there!
3 Point