I like your out-of-the-box perspective here.
There is another critical attribute of system cant -> elevation adjustment plumb -vs- reticle plumb
For those who dial, a full elevation travel test is needed to validate and ensure the POA adjustments stay plumb. In this case, reticle cant itself is meaningless to vertical. And after all, we could be using a simple dot aimpoint rather than a crosshair. It just cannot be assumed that a given cross hair is actually square to click adjustments.
Also worth mentioning; it's important that a level used in the field is scope mounted(not rifle mounted), to indicate either proven plumb elevation adjustments, or cross hair plumb, or both(if lucky). One level, on the scope.
I shoot a plumb line while I shoot a box with my scopes. There is error to filter in this with inaccurate guns, so I don't do the test until load development is completed.
Your test removes shooting error, but keep in mind that guns do in fact shoot with 'error'. That is, a tuned barrel is actually throwing every shot, very consistently, where it happens to.
Consider a bit of barrel recoil(while bullet is still in the bore), and this makes it easier to understand the 'throwing' 'where it happens to' part of it.
Nothing near a laser..
Next time you shoot a tiny group, on the third shot, press your thumb against the action tang. You may observe a shot thrown from the pack. What of adjusted POA? Of adjusted cant?
They were always a part of shooting system tune.