The way I figure it...my kit has gear for a variety of crises, some severe and some minor. Using a little gear early on can help a minor emergency NOT BECOME a major one. Ignoring a problem because your gear is for 'real' emergencies can be penny-wise, pound-foolish.

Silly extreme example - would you use ducttape from your BOB to patch a nick you noticed in your car's brakeline, or would you feel better waiting to using all of your gear to stay alive in a ditch waiting for someone to find your wreck? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

In our house, Rule 1 is 'Don't do anything you'd feel like an idiot explaining in the emergency room later'.