Great points Harmless!

Having a harness for your water bottle is a great idea. You don't have to use it but it will free up more space in your pack. It also makes the water more accessible and serves as a good reminder to drink it. I like a set up with a shoulder and waist strap. It helps minimize the banging around. You can always use adjustable buckles/knots so you can loosen or tighten at will.

Good point about the duct tape on the bottle too. It would be inconvenient, and possibly demoralizing, to have to take it off to boil water. It is a good option if you've got another primary boiling vessel.