I work from time to time in a pipe/cigar shop. We sell and to some extent repair every lighter mentioned. Several of us are rabid outdoorsmen (others, just rabid). Here's my opinion.. for what it's worth:
1)any propane lighter will be more difficult to light than any fluid lighter if very cold or at higher altitude.
2)every fluid lighter (Zippo, e.g.) is more vulnerable to fuel evaporation than any gas lighter. Zippo is supposed to be selling (in 2003) a 1+oz. fuel capsule (like a mini fuel bottle) which I'll probably ranger-band to my Zippo when I get it.
3)Forget about waterproof lighters! If yours happens to be, great. But there are more failures in that area than you would expect. I second Doug's point: put it in a waterproof container, or just consider it water repellant.
4)Piezoelectric (quartz) gas lighters are quite vulnerable to dust/grit, which will change how the lighter is "timed" and thus cause a lighting failure. So are the "torch" type lighters, which also burn a lot of fuel.
5)All butane is not alike. I am convinced that the cheaper brand (e.g. Ronson) has caused us much more trouble than the premium brands (e.g. Colibri). Their story is that the premium fuels are better filtered. I believe it!
6)If your lighter will light in wind... I bet a Zippo will stay lit longer and better than a gas lighter. But certainly some of the gas lighters mentioned will light in wind.

Finally,..(sorry for being so long winded). I polled several lighter repair experts who are also outdoorsmen. Zippo wins hands down... with a backup fuel capsule.