the utility companies will typically use a butterfly or reel to capturethe mule tape, or just pull it and leave it as most never reuse it. the mule tape seriously lacks abasion resitance. you will never see a line company making near capacity pulls with mule...it will always be rope. at least in my 10 years with the utility co.
you CAN pull mule with a capstan BUT you have to babysit it the whole time and be SUPER careful not to free spinn too long as it chews the mule up. in my exp it will jump to the inside of the drum on a simpson winch, perhaps on some of the bigger drums you can make it fly, but the simpson just eats it up........trust me.
