When i say the working loop, this is the rope draped over a tie in point and one end secuerd to the saddle and a friction hitch to the other end. What most everyone climbs on while working. I state it this waht to sepparate it from the DdRT and SRT rope asscencion methods.
Long pitch is taken from rock work, meaning you are moving verticaly for relatively long distances. Say I'm in a silver maple, tied high. I climb down making a few cuts here and there. climb out a branch down some more. then I want to climb back up to transfer over to another stem. I may need to foot lock 30 feet or so. Or I may be in a situation where it is easier to set a redirect rappel down to a lateral to work it then climb back up to retrieve the redirect. The Pantin ames it a little easier to do this because it self tails, or the rope runs right through it after a few feet has been fed through.
A self belay is a secondary ascender used for backup and rest. The Pantin being on the anckle and having no locking mechanism is designed for assisting in a climb only. Not for sole support or even backup of a primary ascender. In case of primary ascender failuer, one would be lucky to be hanging upside down with one as a backup.
Any questions? ask away.If I'm not around, there are others here who can expound on the subject.