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After starting well over a hundred fires the last few days, and trying to start many others, it is my considered opinion that the Fire-Lite (see picture) is a waste of space (mine has just been removed from my EDC).
If this device is your last resort, I wouldn’t throw it away, but I certainly wouldn’t want to go to war, so to speak (forests of northern Canada, southwest deserts of the US, peaks of the Rocky Mountains, etc. – I’ve been watching too many Survivorman episodes) with it.
My first choice for a spark oriented fire lighting device, after a good lighter, and probably on par with matches, would be an artificial flint (your choice – mine would be a FireSteel or the flint from a Coghlan’s magnesium fire starter – I carry both) plus a Sterling Superior knife sharpener (has tungsten carbide blades) as a striker (also useful as a knife sharpener).
As far as getting the sparks to light a fire quickly I favor a two level approach – your choice of artificial tender (Wet Fire, Fire Paste, cotton string/cord soaked in 99% pure lamp oil, etc.) topped with a sprinkling of magnesium filings to act as a spark catcher/igniter.
I must emphasize that you will be much better served if you make your magnesium filings at home and carry them in one of those waterproof keychain capsules. Not only will the capsule of filings be smaller than the block of magnesium (easier to carry) but will be ready at a moments notice to sprinkle on your other tinder.
One final point – field test your survival gear, not once, but many, many times, until you are comfortable with it.
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