I didn't have great results with one of the sparklites that I had either. Maybe it worked just fine, but it just didn't have anywhere near the amount of sparks that I can get from WSI's mini Mg/ferro rod (called a "Sparky" by Doug). Add that to the fact that the sparklite has its spring and wheel mechanical parts (thus more prone to failure in my opinion), and it ended up getting replaced in my personally assembled kit. I hope I don't run into any 'weakening from oxidation' trouble with that ferro rod. Is that common with those?

And hearing about the RescueFlash mirror is quite disconcerting - I have mine protected in a duct tape envelope of sorts outside my kit (for quick accessibility and to increase storage) and it's honestly not that easy to get it back in the envelope if I were to check it. I always thought that something as simple and sturdy as a polycarbonate mirror would always be there to depend on. Those mirrors would be decently expensive ($8) to have to continually replace.