I don't think you'll find the concept of 'gear redundancy' the least bit controversial here. I pack small vials of potassium permanganate AND Portable Aqua Iodine tablets in my Altoids tins. The iodine tablets are my primary means of water purification, with the potassium permanganate serving as a handy backup. Its primary use is as a medical item (disinfectant and anti-fungal solution), a secondary water purification method, and perhaps a fire-starter as a distant third (I don't consider it at all practical in this role, but that's just me). I'm all for packing multiple use items, and if some of these uses overlap, so much the better.