Thanks to all of you for your answers!
...I have certainly been around a while in absolute terms, but not as long as this proc 😊
As you might have noticed, lately I have created a couple automated tests for the public api and the proc popped up a few times. Sometimes, for instance in https://openacs.org/api-doc/proc-view?proc=doc_return&source_p=1, the comments would seem to suggest that this was no longer necessary, hence my curiosity.
When I have time I would like to come up with a small example where I can really see the proc releasing some handle, I think this will make clearer whet the purpose is.
Thanks again!