I agree with you, I guess I was wondering why one would choose the firesteel only over the magnesium version. The firesteel seems very popular here (I own and experiment with both). I don't believe my question was necessarily answered by reading FAQ's, because I understand how to use both.

It takes very little magnesium scraped off (hacksaw blade) with a little strip of birch bark on the edge to get flame. without the magnesium one needs the tinderquick, cotton balls etc. If the choice was one or the other, would not the added benefit of the magnesium make it a no brainer? Even if you carry tinderquick and cotton balls as well; the magnesium and a hacksaw blade would have you making fires long after your tinderquick or cottonballs were gone (assuming a longer term survival situation). anyway, thanks for the reply.