Backpacjac,
This is what I have done:
Smallest ferro rod you can find. I suggest that you go on e-bay and buy a light-my- fire. The very small orange handled one.
Pill fob packed with cotton/vasiline balls.
Coghlan's wrist compass: Very good bit of kit. Loose the strap and put it on your neck cord.
Whistle. What ever you fancy. I prefer a ACME tornado.
A photon light or what is generally refered to as a fauxton. I prefer the fauxton. Most of my fauxtons have outlasted my much vaunted Photon lights.(e-bay again!)
For a neck knife: Pick a Becker BK13 and get someone to mod the spine to a flat edge.


Also: forget about all the "concerns" about be throttled by 550 cord. Ain't going to happen and you've got a knife!