I have magnesium in lots of different flavors and sizes. I hate to sound like a noob, but I just don't quite understand why it's relatively popular. For awhile, I was acting as if I liked magnesium because many others were so enthusiastic about it, the military carries it, etc. Unfortunately, Mg burns so fast that it's really hard to get a flame started from it. There is probably some specialized situation in which magnesium shines (?). Anyway, I still can be found carrying a small stick of magnesium, just in case I learn of its value during a real emergency.

EDIT: Come to think about it, would magnesium help to ignite a damp cotton ball? Hmmm, it's time to experiment.