Might have been me that posted some cone negativity.
The cone has a tendency to slide off the end of the log when you are winching on any kind of a downhill grade. Or level ground, for that matter.
If I'm winching up a bank with stumps or large rocks, I usually attach the winch line to the middle of the log, which lets the log pivot around the obstruction.
In the winter, with deeper snow, the cone really shines though.
Setting a redirect block decently high up a tree is key to making the winching op go easier.