Experimental results from TEXTOR are presented to provide strong evidence for the feasibility of the 'cold radiative plasma mantle', a concept which might be a possible solution for the energy exhaust problem in a fusion reactor. The concept is compared with the high density divertor. The compatibility to other constraints, limitations and open problems are discussed, in particular the issues of stationarity (feed-back control, thermal instabilities, q=2), energy confinement, He-exhaust and fuel dilution.