once again i did not read every response to the first message...but..
here in Minnesota strike anywhere's are back and better that some years ago.the company must have responded to the complaints and the matches have more of that "white stuff" on the tip and seem to be a bit larger,more wood.
i put about six big box's away in plastic jars, still in the plastic wrap,when it looked like they were being discontinued.
i keep storm matches around but for everyday jobs the wood ones work fine.
a better match for lighting gas lamps are ones i found in a Swedish stuff store.they have long sticks but not as huge a fireplace matches.