I'm sure this is an old question... well I know it is considering all the Google searches I did 
but I still have no definitive answer.
PB: 12.5.1 Classic
Packaging: PCode /w resource file (creating PBD); but I have also tried every other variation.
Menu Style: Contemporary
I'm changing a MenuImage @ runtime, and it only shows if the path to the image is valid - the previously created resource PDB has no affect on dynamically changed menu items; what I saying is that even though the resource has been added via a PBR file - I still need to include the actual image file with my executable during deployment.
Thank you for any insight,