E-M5 tripod socket damage

Comparing the damaged camera to a normal one, I can see that you're absolutely right. Definitely a lot more than just cross threading.

I'd still have a go at unscrewing the damaged tripod bush, seeing if it's possible to flatten the bulging baseplate with gentle force and ordering a tripod bush from Olympus (if that's possible).

Much of the cost for repair will be in postage and labour, and it could be a minimally invasive job.

That said, I still have the collection of bits that used to be a Minox 35GT I took apart to fix a light leak 20 years ago, so perhaps I should refrain from advising on camera repair 😊