I think it is the issue of an on/off valve that distinguishes between legal and illegal stoves. If there is no shutoff valve on a stove, then, in some cases, they are illegal during a fire ban. Same thing applies to the wood burning stoves that are increasing in popularity.

+1 on all your other points. I would add, though, that they could save some weight and add some convenience by using a canister stove rather than a Svea 123. And, even a single-edge razor blade tucked away somewhere would be better than no knife at all.