Yes on using actual player piano rolls.
I did quite a bit of thinking about how to “play” them. The mechanism would have to stick to the original idea of a constant velocity take-up spool to advance the paper. Reading can be done either by optical means or using pressure sensors. Since using vacuum as the “capstan” to maintain contact of the paper is likely more reliable than some kind of pressure roller, I tend to favor the pressure sensor approach. I never even considered trying to detect motion of the original mechanical actuators.
Unfortunately, I do not currently have the motivation to develop this further.