Nothing beats a traditional wooden kitchen match for lighting a pipe.
I'm with you on that one for most tobacco, but with a just-rubbed heavy flake such as a Lakeland blend and a tight Franck's fill, you can really feel the benefit from a gas lighter at the beginning. Subtle relights and "booster lights" are perfect territory for a Swan Vesta. Though, if all I had was a good quality match to get a stoke going, I wouldn't be complaining.
I actually threw 2 Zippos in the trash a few months ago because I was just sick of their temperamental nature and having to refill them all the time. I did everything I could do maintain them and keep them happy, only ever used Zippo fuel, got new wicks in promptly and they didn't reward my effort at all. Plus, at -Celcius, they just don't want to light. I'm sticking with gas from now on, but have yet to find a preferred brand.