"I don't think I'd have so much fun sitting around and gazing into a MSR Pocket Rocket fired up on the picnic table."

This brought a grin when I read it - the mechanical stoves just don't have that "fellowship effect" - not even the full throated roar of a SVEA works for that..... And you can make a case for wood stove in reducing the fuel load when you combust all that dead wood. It is good to have options.....