Kirk, I had one recently rated pilot try that on me off tow. I saw it happening and I almost turned to the side of his zoom but decided not to make the situation worse.
I though of dropping the rope mid zoom, but did not want to loose two rings and all that new rope. I toughed it out, when he got off I told him on the radio to never do that again. When we were both on the ground I asked him about that maneuver and where he got the idea. He said it was something he read.

I told him we do not teach it, if I knew if him doing it again that would be his last flight at our club.

As for soft releases, when trained and done properly they are a non event.

BillT