I haven't used a piezo igniter on a wilderness trip. Guess I'm a bit 'old skool' with my Bic in my pocket (and spares tucked in everywhere).

I've had some piezo igniters that wouldn't quit. Some of the long-nose BBQ/fire lighters kept sparking (and starting the BBQ) long after the butane ran out. A couple of different ones got left out over winter, under snow and snowmelt. Just for laughs, I dried them out and scraped the rust off the 'points' and, voila, they sparked again.

I wonder if higher elevations (thin air) makes it harder to create a hot spark (which is basically a tiny plasma arc AFAIK). Perhaps the gap needs to be adjusted?

The advantage of the Piezo ignition is it just simply there, attached to the stove.

Wow, wanna trade? I've replaced the unit, but the new ignition isn't any better. It too failed after a few weeks and is now as dead as a door nail.

I've read that MSR originally designed their new Reactor stove with a piezo ignition but then removed it because it was unreliable.

Apparently, Jetboil is aware that they have a problem; the new Jetboil is advertised as having an "improved" piezo ignition. I've heard mixed reports as to how good the "improved" ignition on the new Jetboil is, but on the older Jetboil, yours is the first report I've ever heard that indicates that the ignition is reliable.

HJ