Sure - but MC's have 360 LoS. I'd like to see the rule in its entirety before I get in on this because reading is fun. Either way, you may still be able to drop the pod in such a way that it can manage to deliver all 5 templates on a unit.
Also - Venom Cannons would be my choice. It's 6 str ap 4. Barb stranglers do have the larger template and pinning but are str 4 ap 5. eh... It's BS 2 and it has to shoot at the closest thing. Large Blast could be a lot more entertaining!
No, it can't. at Int 10, they detonate. There is no option.