I used a bit of old rope to pull a limb and it worked way better than I thought

I was clearing a storm damaged willow in a tight backyard and my usual nylon slings were in the truck. I had a short piece of old three strand manila rope, maybe 15 feet long, in my kit. On a whim, I used it to pull a tricky top section away from a fence. The rope had way more grip and stretch than the slick slings, so it didn't slip once and cushioned the pull. I learned that sometimes the old simple gear in your bag can be the perfect tool for a specific job. Has anyone else found a surprising use for a piece of basic gear like that?