I have used but but prefer the smoothness of the pulla bung. The side puller seems to damage the elastic a lot more. I believe it is the angle on the elastic with a side puller that does the damage. No doubt others will disagree. They are commercially produced side pullers not a home made job!
The side pullers are neater without a doubt though which is why I tried them but I went back to pulla bungs.
By the way you are wrong about puller bungs not working on deep water rigs. Prestons have recently produced one but I haven’t tried it myself. see link :-
http://www.tedcarter.co.uk/preston-innovations/preston-innovations-deep-water-pulla-bung