Why use a ferrocerium rod to light a fire?

If you are learning to survive or actually trying to survive for real then you would need to improvise with a hand drill / bow drill / natural quartz etc.

If on the other hand you are prepared in advance and can use modern technology then surely it would be better to use a lighter. If you can have a modern manufactured rod with you then surely you can have a modern manufactured lighter instead.

What am I missing here?