Practical and necessary. I’ll pull the low E 1-1/2 steps sharp sometimes.
But there’s a trick to it.
Use the meat of your palm against the fretboard as leverage. That way, it’s just like you’re trying to squeeze something. Don’t try to do it with just one finger, at least not at first. Minimum two fingers; three if you can. Pull/squeeze.
Yes, it will hurt those fingertips at first. That’s why we keep doing it. Builds callouses, and callouses make playing easier.
Good luck, Ben!