Has special pleading ever actually ever won anyone over? I mean I can't see it working, but I see many bizarre things being claimed here...?

Of course it has.

In fact, using special pleading fallaciously is so common that it is a well-known logical fallacy.

I point out that special pleading can definitely be employed in a logically valid manner. In fact, it's quite common. Only when it is employed fallaciously (which, to be honest, is probably far more common) is it a logical fallacy.

Possibly.

I'm sure it has, remember a sucker is born every minute.

Maybe one or two.

Special pleading, appeal to authority, circular reasoning, argument of incredulity, argument from ignorance, cherry picking, argument ad populum, strawmanning, and ad hominems are all the most common informal logical fallacies Christian apologetics make continuesly.

All the time.

Good salesmen use Special Pleading all the time.

The professional religious charlatans employ them constantly.

Hell and Heaven are Special Pleadings ...

An angry and vengeful God is another.

Sure it has. Special pleading is Christian apologetics 101.

Never underestimate human stupidity.

Charismatic evangelicals can spin the fairytale to be alluring, i.e heaven, fluffy clouds, virgins and hamburgers, or, they can play the fear angle. This is thankfully less common these days, but a good example of this is how the Conquistadors acted in the face of the Aztecs( Might be thinking Inca?) religious idols.

I've never actually seen a 'duel' between [insert other religion here]'s idols and christianity's idols (yes you have them. Your crosses and your book work just fine), but I imagine the whole thing would probably be underwhelming, if not silly, to someone without prior delusion.

Yes.

Unfortunately many fools have fallen for the Atheist Special Pleading.

Pray for them dear.

I used to be one of these snarling monsters, and I hated God, oh how I hated Him!

The Devil had me through Atheist Special Pleading.

Luckily the light of Jesus pierced the darkness and I saw the light of The Lord!