Was the tractor beam fixed at last?

[Florestan]

Last time I played shadow (when it was released), the tractor beam was broken, and used in a semi-random way: space stations pulling the troop transports to make sure the troops landed safely, carriers and half dead ships pulling enemy assault ships to make sure their close range weaponry worked to their best, ships pulling kaltors (i know this one was fixed), the space stations not using them to help friendlies to dock and undock faster, and such non-sense, as far as I can remember.
Was it fixed? Is the tractor beam research tree now worth researching? Did anyone find any use to them?
I can see my bug report was completely ignored, so i have little hope that this wonderful idea may have any kind of use.
Strange enough, the discussions on this topic are very rare.

[Spacecadet]

As far as I know, Tractor Beams are only used in Combat situations.

I've seen them used to Push and Pull as the case warranted quite often.

[ASHBERY76]

It's actually very handy.It helps a lot pushing silvermist's away.

[Ralzakark]

If you design them right, tractor beams on space stations are useful to pull in pirates long and close enough for the station's assault pods to get to work.

[Florestan]

ORIGINAL: Spacecadet
As far as I know, Tractor Beams are only used in Combat situations.

Yes, and It is too bad, because in real life, it would be the perfect docking helper, and it would make sense to use it in the game. The only ship actually getting that kind of help are invading troop transports, which makes (or used to make, if it was fixed) equipping them on space station a dangerous hazard.

ORIGINAL: Spacecadet
I've seen them used to Push and Pull as the case warranted quite often.

Most of the time, the push/pull is so weak I cannot say if it was a push or a pull.

ORIGINAL: ASHBERY76
It's actually very handy.It helps a lot pushing silvermist's away.

I did not think to try that. Thanks for the tip.

ORIGINAL: Ralzakark
If you design them right, tractor beams on space stations are useful to pull in pirates long and close enough for the station's assault pods to get to work.

Is it possible to “design them” in another way than simply put them on a space station? A way that would prevent them from inviting the enemy ground troops down on the planet?
It would be nice to be able to do it right. Gravitic weapons seem especially useful on space ports, as they cost less than standard blasters, and are very efficient on smaller crafts trying to invade. They're big, but space ports don't care, and short ranged, which the tractor beam would help mitigate.