When I was a kid in the late 60's, early 70's, we used to buy "London Lights" around about this time of year. They were almost identical, to the ration pack matches I was issued later in life but similar to the "Bengal matches" already mentioned, the "London Lights" burned green or red. They were the cause of many a nasty burnt finger and the fuel for the odd minor arson attempt, being the incendiary of choice, when raiding other kids bonfire fuel stores, in the run up to bonfire night!
The military ration pack matches were variable in effectiveness in my experience.
The first ones I was issued in the early 80's worked extremely well, very much as well as the UCO matches and you could easily ignite your hexi blocks with a single match, even in strong winds or rain but by the mid 90's, they couldn't be relied upon to perform as well.
I recall instructing groups of recruits in the niceties of basic field cookery with ration packs, all through the mid 80's and using similar demo techniques to the UCO video to illustrate how good the matches were but eventually, after many a laughable failure of the matches to work, even indoors, giving up on them and using disposable lighters instead, advising the lads to do the same.
I've still got a load of the things stashed somewhere in the garage but I wouldn't bother to include them in any firelighting kit I might put together.
I suppose they may well have been improved again in recent years of course.
I'd suggest the gas lighter as the best bet for emergencies, with a small poly bag or envelope with vaseline impregnated cotton wool or make up removal pads for tinder/kindling.
Otherwise, those uco matches
look pretty good, though I think I'd have to test a couple, before
relying on them for a back up kit.
Good luck regardless
Steve