Why no prusik?

[stephen0351]

Im new to caving. I haven’t been on a vertical trip yet, only to vertical practice. All the videos I’ve seen and the people at practice using racks or Simples nobody uses a backup device like a prusik, why is that? If you lose control of the rope on a descend for whatever reason you are going down fast. Is there something that prevents the use of a backup? Sorry if I should know this, I will now, thanks

[knudeNoggin]

Wow, oct'23 & soooo much silence.

Use of a gripping hitch for arresting out-of-control abseils has been deemed dubiuos/dangerous, given the tendancy to grap the knot, which will see it sliiiiiiddde & melt.
*kN*