Top - down furler is actually a thing , I never heard it called that . Here is a pretty good article . https://www.cruisingworld.com/top-down-furlers-101/
To answer your question , on how we fly ours . Nothing special , just set it up and hoist it . We have a W28 so it is not as big . Back in the day before we had roller furling for the Yankee , I could use the one hank at the head . Now that we have RF , I can't use the hank and I get some chafe . Enough that it is starting to go through the leather .
I think I need one of those top-down furlers , they look pretty nice . Thanks for the tip .
Mark .