Maybe I miss your meaning but on OS X/chrome: cmd-shift-T to reopen the last window with all tabs. Works even after a chrome restart. Saves me when 40 tabs open and I Cmd-Q for too long instead of Cmd-W.
Yes, I'm aware of this, but it pretty much means the pinned tab behaves like "any other tab". If I closed those 40 tabs, the pinned tab should move elsewhere or persist. Otherwise, I'll have to manually re-pin it all the time.