"The third world implications with this thing don't make sense to me'
The project started with the intention to make an affordable smokeless and efficient stove that can burn organic matter for third world countries, not a way to produce electricity.
"smokeless" is the key word.
If you ever visit areas where open fires are used inside the home you will see the effect that smoke has on people.
The "producing electricity" bit is a bonus not the primary reason for it.
In fact the more common version of the stove will be the one without the power out. That is because it will be cheaper and probably will last longer.
The camp stove (again....) is a by-product of that project...
Type "biolite stove" into Google images to see some of the prototypes made.
Franco