I think the rule of 3's is nice because it gives you a structure & something to think thru ahead of time & even more importantly something to think thru in the situation - so you won't panic. Anything that helps you relax & keep your head is a great tool to have. I don't know of anyone that thinks they are set in stone. Just a good guide.

Interesting story - 4 years ago I was using the rule of 3's in teaching our cubscouts (8 yr olds) what to do in a survival situation.

My first question was --> What should you do if you realize you a lost in the woods?

First kid blurted out "walk really fast!"

Second kid immediately followed up with "start looking for food"