It seems to me from watching Survivor Man and Man vs. Wild that not only are you dealing with planned adventures to some extent, by two guys who stay within their skills. Les looked pretty freaked out in the Amazon, and I think it was so because he was somewhat out of his element. Same thing with Costa Rica. You see him with his axe in the Canadian woods, and he seems much more at ease and adept at dealing with what faces him.

I also think it's great to develop the skills to survive with nothing but your clothes and a big knife, but it is also not the way you want to live if you have to survive. If it comes down to surviving then you will want to do it with as much comfort as possible. Having gear and stores available makes it more comfortable.