Fantastic points and info there i recon
MrCharly,
I do agree with you on moral, good moral can have you thinking clearer and trying to find a solution to your problem rather than just giving up.
My point was though that if you are cold and wet and going into hypothermia i don't think even the best moral in the world would stop the onset of full on hypothermia.
I was also trying to put that into the context that, gram for gram something like a light weight down jacket would have you in a better state physically (i.e, not as cold) than if you substituted that down jacket for a stove, water, fuel, pot and a fire starter.
I realise that can seem a bit of a stretch for some, but how many hikers do you know and how many take a stove on a day hike?
So although say 600g doesn't seem much sitting here, in my experience when folks set out on longer day hikes they do try and keep weight reasonable.
So it was just a gram per gram comparison of what would be better to keep you alive on a cold wet hillside in conjunction with a emergency bivvy bag, warm outer layer like a down jacket or a stove, IMO gram for gram and cm for cm a warm outer layer would stand you in better sted.
Cranmere,
All great points and i do agree with you.
My point was/is that IF you are relying on a fire in a emergency then you need to be absolutely certain you can get one going, even injured.
You also have to be absolutely certain you will be able to have enough fuel, in many of the popular outdoors areas like the Lakes, and even the peak district there are vast vast areas with nothing to burn for fuel.
As i say you can have a flame thrower mounted on your back but if there is no fuel to burn then it's not going to do you any good at all.
Might seem a bit far fetched to some here, but the vast vast majority of my outdoors time is spent on, around or up mountains, many here prefer the woods so fuel or wood to burn won't have come into their decision making process.
If you venture out of woods (not you but in general) then you really have to think that IF a fire is a emergency back up for you to provide heat will there be any wood to burn.
Again just my opinion but a spare warm outer layer like say a down jacket would be a safer more reliable option.