in reply to Re^2: assign open2 output to variable
in thread assign open2 output to variable

The following will print the output as its produced:
while (<COUT>) { print; }

Well, it prints it a line at a time. sysread can truly get it as its produced.

Of course, plink might buffer its output. Lots of applications do when they're output isn't a terminal. If it does, you'll have to look if it provides a way to be told not to.