Hello Nicodemus,
I am in a nearly identical situation in respect to self sufficency (that is how I view it anyhow).
My friends are all outdoor types; Climbers/Backcountry Ski/Mountain Bike/ River Guides/ Etc. Very few of them even consider survival in the sense that folks in this group do. Although they all have considerable real world experience in the matter. I actually stock up supplies for some of these clowns when I am stocking my supplies just in case... Most of them would not think too much of having to suffer physical hardship for 72 hours. I am willing to bet some of them would consider being dumped unharmed with nothing in the backcountry for 72 hours as an inconvience and not a survival situation. They would likely look at you and say being cold and thirsty, sleeping in 2 hr fits, stomping up and down to keep warm, etc was no big deal and want to know where the beer/food was (and why I droped them off out there for 72 hrs). This is due to thier fitness levels and familiarity with the environment.
Obvioulsy my survival plans my be slightly different from others in any given situation.
In some situations for people less fit, but more prepared a prudent survival tactic may be to ally themselves with someone more fit but less prepared.
Or perhaps start getting more fit before it is required to perform a "survival" task...