If we're talking about a field/survival setting... Vaseline impregnated cotton balls (real cotton, not the synthetic ones) in a waterproof container w/ a magnesium striker and both in a larger container w/ a few slivers of dried wood and waterproof matches.
Seriously, what else would you need? Have you actually considered the amount of energy and time required to do the bow method or even flint and steel? One could better use the time and energy on other tasks such as water, food and shelter. Also, have you tried using a lighter in windy conditions? Even mild winds? Try turning it upside down to get the flame down to your kindling, out of the wind and see how that works for you.
I went out in the field with a friend last year and tried a number of survival techniques, including fire starting techniques that we read or heard others discuss. This included so-called "experts". We were so amazed at the amount of bad ideas there are floating around! The restriction was only ten (10) lbs. max. in our complete pack/duffel bag. This included food, water, first aid, shelter, implements and weapons. We did it under a number of scenarios; windy, wet, little starter fuel, etc. When all were ruled out, we came back to the original idea... Vaseline and cotton balls. Light, compact, nontoxic and easy to use. It can also serve to augment your First Aid kit as it has many uses. I also liked the idea of Purell Hand Sanitizer for the same reasons since it is mostly ethanol/isopropyl alcohol. Dual/multi-use products like zinc oxide are valuable in the field for obvious reasons. Zinc oxide can be used for many things including making a temporary filling.
If we're discussing a situation where we're camping out and the truck is nearby... gasoline and the remainder of my lit cigar butt. Works every time.
