From personal experience:
Tinder-Quick tabs make a critical differance. Irrespective of which firesteel or magnesium block you use. They either take a spark directly or can be used to catch magnesium shaving. If you need to boost the initial thermal impulse.

Maya wood or fatwood is second stage tinder. It's excellent as a booster (as shavings),but I would not be happy relying on it in a shivering wet This Fire Light's The First Time Or I Am Dead situation.