Has anyone tried it. I know we are talking about something very inconsistent here.

It is just a thought if anyone has ever resorted to it or have tested it.

Yes, pocket lint works well. As does drier lint from the lint trap, and even fuzz pulled off of cotton socks you might be wearing in a time of need.

I guess I should add the caveat that you have enough pocket lint in your pocket at the time you pluck it for use. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The smaller "Ranger" firelighting flints originally came with a piece of hacksaw as a striker, with a false chisel edge on the end.
The chisel edge was not to be used as a knife, it was to be used as a scraper on issue military fatigues ( then of cotton) to provide lint as tinder. Modern fatigues with synthetic materials don't work the same...

Pocket lint or dryer lint works fine with a caveat.

It depends on what the lint comes from and the amount. A small pinch could be so small it really would not make much difference. The other part is that if it is primarily cotton you are golden. If it contains a large precentage of synthetics, in essence plastic, It might not catch very well. If the lint comes from mostly wool you would be lucky to get it started with a match or lighter.