Also there is quite a bit of information about firepistons and other less common methods of firemaking at Paleoplanet. The Firemaking forum has several threads on pistons. "Cutshurt" is Darrel Aune over there.

http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/

Darrel has a long thread over there about making a piston should anyone want to give it a go too.

I think firepistons are really fun tools but for me are more of a display firemaker than a first line tool. There are definately some advantages to the coal you can get from a piston on a windy day though...however tinder prep and type and overall fire prep are really important compared to the more direct (crude) matches and lighter methods.

I can promise anyone though that if you do a firepiston fire demo your audience will be very attentive....it is like magic to get the coal and blow it up into flame.