In Vietnam, the USN SEAL's used a similar approach in cultivating captured VC/NVA which included very "lenient" treatment and the use of soft techniques to very good use.
Winning an individual over as compared to breaking him has got to be the better method. I have no doubt of that and have said that all along.
I am not naive enough to think that will always work or is it always appropriate.
The end goal is probably what determines the methods to be used.
If you seek to build a Criminal Case then coercive interrogation techniques are not appropriate ever.
If it is cooperation you seek then again coercive techniques are not appropriate.
If it is simply getting critical information from an unwilling prisoner in a timely fashion then perhaps harsher techniques might be considered. When the timeliness of that information being sought is no longer important then the use of coercive means is no longer justifiable.
That does not mean "Torture" but the use of psychological means and minor physical measures to break down the ability of the prisoner to withhold information. Making him uncomfortable, deprive him of sleep, altering of eating times, inducing mental stress....all harsh and unpleasant but far removed from what could be construed as "Torture".