Piston porting

has anyone ever tried this?
do you know what I'm on about ? (not sure i do )

for anyone that dont;

basically heard a tale of engine builder(s) drilling small holes around the edge of the piston crown into the top compression ring cut out..

theory being that the combustion chamber gas flows thru these holes, and forces the top ring into the cylinder wall.. giving a better seal


Anyone else ever heard of this?
If so;

does this have any place on anything but a drag engine?

If you have experimented with this, has it been effective?

does it reduce engine life by a lot?