I also think "containerizing" is an important thing to do. A spot for everything and everything in it's spot. Having specific pouches, pockets, or ties for your items means you know where everything is when you need to use it. Grabbing an item is a 3 or 4 second action rather than the ordeal of rifling through your pack, clothes, and other items to find your flashlight or fire starter.

Now, this doesn't mean I advocate the altoids tin approach of cramming your entire survival kit into the tiniest space possible. This ruins the idea of convenience of use. Plus, since it is a hassle to repack your kit you are less likely to check or update the contents.

Also if you lose your altoids tin, you've lost you entire e-kit. There should be some redundancy in your items. But I feel these redundant items shouldn't be packed together. Firesteel on a carabiner attached to my belt, bic lighter in my pocket, matches in my pack. If I lose one, or even two, I have replacement items, in a different location. This is also the reason I carry two knives. I don't even even trust the stuff bolted to my clothes. I like knowing I have a backup.