Well as far as batteries go (and if this was mentioned in the Walking Home thread I apologize as I didn't follow that one), I take sort of a hybrid approach to the multi/uni tasker argument.

It's just plain hard these days to find a cell phone, digital camera, etc. that will run off of AA batteries. There are some old standards like GPSs that do but you just can't count on it any more. I tend to buy stuff that can charge off of USB these days as it's sort of the new standard, then suppliment that with some a AA powered usb Charger.

Here's a list of some of the stuff I have in my camping/EDC/hiking/emergency compliment of gear which will charge off of USB or is used in the act of usb charging:

Energizer Duo Charger: http://www.energizer.com/usbcharger/language/english/download.aspx
Engergizer Energi to Go Charger: http://www.energizer.com/products/energi-to-go/Pages/ipod-cell-phone-charger.aspx
Ziplinq Power X2 adapter: http://www.ziplinq.com/retractable-cable-pwr.html
Freeplay Eyemax radio: http://www.freeplayenergy.com/product/eyemax-weatherband
Freeplay Sherpa Led light: http://www.freeplayenergy.com/product/sherpaled
Blackberry 8130
12W/12V folding solar panel: http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443281867&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672503&bmUID=1206926414030&deptid=1408474396672395&ctgrid=1408474396672406&subctgrid=1408474396672503

Unfortunately I haven't been able to figure out a way to USB charge my new digital camera yet but my old one is still perfectly serviceable and runs off AAs.

As most of you know I'm very pro-multitask. Try as I might I've never been able to get rid of all the uni-taskers...it's just not always practical or possible...that's where I resort to the above mentioned 'layers' myself (big knife+axe+machete for example). Sometimes it's the act of thinking outside the box which makes something a multitasker, not that items original designed use.