Fire starting is becoming a lost art. I had my scouts up at camp this summer and the first two days we had constant rain. The kids first night the kids were cold and simply didn't have it in them to get a fire going and just huddled together under some tarps. I went and got a couple wet logs, split them several times to expose the dry centers, shaved some tinder and kindling from them, then started a fire using a ferro rod. I always keep several feet of jute cord in my pocket with the ferro rod - you can make a tinder ball quickly by unraveling the fibers and it will catch a spark instantly. I had a small fire going within a few minutes, and within several minutes it was hot enough to burn the damp logs and branches that were laying out. We boiled some water for hot chocolate, and the kids were enjoying themselves again. Fortunately, starting a fire in the rain with supposedly wet materials intrigued some of the boys and they asked how I did it. By the end of the week they were well on their way to learning how to be proficient fire starters. Dry tinder can usually be had in most wet conditions, it just takes persistence and some knowledge of where to look. Of course the best strategy is to plan ahead and have the materials on hand and protected ahead of time. You can pack fuel and firestarters in, but I think it is more fun to find them on scene.
Why the ferro rod and jute? It is lightweight, can get wet, be dried out quickly and still light a fire, and for the amount of space it takes, I can start hundreds of fires versus a lighter or matches. All very conducive towards backpacking, but once I learned the skills, I found it easier to just use the ferro rod to start all of my fires. For a real challenge, try learning primitive firemaking skills. The bow and drill is the easiest. I can get a fire started on the first try pretty consistently within a few minutes if I bring my own tinder or have access to dry tinder. Try making your own kit from natural materials for more challenge. I am currently learning how to hand drill - much more difficult, but I have managed to get a few coals with a kit I purchased online. I admire the people who can assemble a hand drill kit out in nature and get a fire going. It is not an easy feat. Why primitive firemaking? It will greatly improve your ability to start a fire in general, especially in adverse weather, and secondly, I think it is just cool as hell to be able to do it. I don't know about it making you more connected to nature, it is just fun.