Ping mode never was about ranking. Ping mode generates traffic to a site, it was about inflating traffic counts.
So if you want to sell a domain etc... I mean you could I guess use browser based ping mode to generate traffic and if you have google analytics on the site it might help. But if I were planning an SEO strategy, this wouldnt be my first approach.
I mean really, IMHO with a strategy like that, its so far removed that I would say you fall into 1 of 2 categories.
1 - you test and figure it out on your own and if it works you use it and tell no one.
2 - you ask, in which case your asking the wrong questions IMHO. You need to go sort another strategy.
Thats my 2 cents anyway, Id say you should look at a different strategy.