They're used all the time on heavy equipment. You have a much greater lever than you do at the wheel so it's actually more practical for a cruiser. Land Rover has been doing this for a while, too, folks.
The e brake drum diameter and surface area of the 80 is actually quite large. Fzj80 parking shoes are wider and larger radiused than the GM 1 ton disc brake drum-in-hats I have now. And larger than the f350 super duty shoes I just pulled off a 2004. Etc.
So bollocks. I think the mechanical...