Such imagined one-way leg powered rope sliders exist[1]!
They work well, but surely would be tiring and—after exiting a jacuzzi into a windy void—I'd have to imagine quite cold.
Very true -I guess the point I was trying to make is that if you find yourself at the bottom of a rope _without_ an ascender to hand, all hope is not lost. (though admittedly, I'd probably need a working internet connection to be able to remember how to tie a prussic ;) )
1. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascender_%28climbing%29