I have a M8000 Warn winch that I use daily, this time of year. It has used a couple different synthetic cables. Steel just doesn't work well, and is hazardous to your hands.
What do you want to know?
Friction is a problem, but if you use chain or cable for the part of the cable that takes the friction of rubbing on the ground, you're ok. Friction on the spool, past trees, or through the farland is not an issue.
What I end up doing, is to cut off the end of the cable every so often to get down to fresh rope. It is very east to cut and splice in the field.