Flint and steel may be an old invention but its not really "primitive" in the sense of being backward -- i.e. zippo lighters light with a tiny flint and a steel. I think flint and steel is actually more reliable and makes more sense than matches, which can get wet or deteriorate no matter how much you protect them. Also they only work once (read "to build a fire" by Jack London). There's a neat little flint you can get thats made by Coughlan's and costs around $3. You can make a veritable shower of hot sparks with it by scraping it with the blade of a pocket knife. Aim it at some good tinder, like a cotton ball, and "poof" instant fire. Its even attached to a magnesium block thats supposed to also function as tinder but I never needed it.