Has anyone ever heard of this?

[Boston Benz]

I swear I've heard of this somewhere re: using a torch to remove a stripped rubber brake line from either the caliper or from the brake pipe. I was talking to someone the other day about this, I know in the past I've heard of someone using an acetylene/oxygen torch to remove such a brake line. Rather than spend 20+ minutes trying to remove it with (maybe) vise-grips, this person stood back a few feet, applied heat on the fitting at the brake pipe (or caliper) for about fifteen-seconds. Suddenly the brake hose and fitting make a definite "pop" and off comes the stubborn stripped fitting on the hose. Somehow the threads aren't damaged on the brake pipe union nor the caliper. Is this possible?? Anyone ever hear of this technique?? I have actually watched skilled mechanics spend a half-hour trying to remove a stripped hose fitting from a pipe union or a caliper as opposed to just applying heat and being done with it.