Table elimination works in 5.3 release builds, even if one sets @@optimizer_switch to turn it off.

create table t1 (a int);
insert into t1 values (0),(1),(2),(3);
create table t2 (a int primary key, b int)
as select a, a as b from t1 where a in (1,2);

set optimizer_switch='table_elimination=on';
explain extended select t1.a from t1 left join t2 on t2.a=t1.a;
id select_type table type possible_keys key key_len ref rows filtered Extra
1 SIMPLE t1 ALL NULL NULL NULL NULL 4 100.00
Warnings:
Note 1003 select `test`.`t1`.`a` AS `a` from `test`.`t1` where 1

set optimizer_switch='table_elimination=off';
explain extended select t1.a from t1 left join t2 on t2.a=t1.a;
id select_type table type possible_keys key key_len ref rows filtered Extra
1 SIMPLE t1 ALL NULL NULL NULL NULL 4 100.00
Warnings:
Note 1003 select `test`.`t1`.`a` AS `a` from `test`.`t1` where 1