Have you tried a puller on flat ground? You say they "don't work at all" on flat ground - is this due to the much more mellow soil in the ridge compared to flat ground or the fact the ridge is elevated and you can lose some soil without leaving a trench? They do seem to be used mostly in ridge till that I have seen.

Those ridges in the original picture look like they would plant just fine with just a set of Trashwheels on the planter.

Jim at Dawn