> why the pocket rocket, etc. over the jetboil or reactor?

not really the pocket rocket, as much as *any* small canister stove. I have a snow peak gigapower,
the brunton crux, etc. all of them are fine. they're all pretty much the same.

Simple. weight. those complicated things are heavy. While the jetboil and reactor will use less fuel to boil than my little thing, the extra weight of the stove outdoes the weight of the rest of the rig.
A small canister stove with a hunk of aluminim foil cake pan or flashing for a windscreen is lighter. keep it simple.

As for other suggestions? get a lighter tent- you'll save more weight than you ever will on your stove, (although do not discount the fact that by going with a simpler stove and therefore tending
to lighter dehydrated meals you will carry less weight in food too)

I carry just one pot and a small plastic cup.