I flew with a bic lighter over Thanksgiving, they seem to be off the prohibited list now. I agree paper matches can be useful, as long as they're dry and you know how to light one.

I think as long as you know the limitations of a device, nearly anything can be useful. As long as you remember that gas station pocket knife is a gas station pocket knife and don't treat it like a Sebenza its something you can use. Only when you think a tool much better then it is, is it truly a liability. But the same thing is true with high quality gear. You can't cook over an open flame with a Nalgene bottle, you can't pry with most high quality knives. If you don't use it with in its limits, or don't know its limits its a negative item.

People have done a lot with poor tools. How many people have cooked in empty cans? Tried cutting with a piece of glass?

On the other hand if a device doesn't perform with in the advertised specs, then I really consider it a negative survival item. A knife with a defect in temper or handle material, or electronics that short out or otherwise break unexpectedly these are really negative survival items. These I worry about.