to answer your question in details:
1. company policy of min alt usage must be established by each operator hence you should check your manual which alt you must maintain given the choice between MEA and MTCA.
2. MSA based on LTE VOR is 3500 ft thus needless to explain that anything above is safe, within 25 NM, of course.
3. If cleared by ATC for a standard arrival a published profile must be followed which is 5000ft otherwise you commit ATC violation even though you're perfectly safe at MTCA. It's a conventional arrival based on VOR therefore MEA is applicable assuring adequate radio coverage.
I suggest next time you fly in by CAVOK just have a look around you and you'll have a pretty good picture of what you could do.
