Although I agree with your other recommendations, I don't share your experience about vaseline/cotton. I've taken a bit, dropped it in a slush puddle, shaken the water off and blotted slightly, then found it ignited well with my firesteel (once, actually in a heavy snow storm). I do spread and pull the cotton ball out to almost a gauze-like sheet, which I bunch up a bit. It actually did save my life from hypothermia in the cold/wet.