Good topic. I have been on a quest for similar answers lately. I make no claims of being overly knowledgeable yet but it does seem that BC is a lot more of being comfortable in the woods as apposed to merely surviving. Kind of a doing more with less. The more knowledge you have the less gear you need. If you don't have a knife...chip one out of flint, no matches...make a bow drill, no cordage...weave some out of reeds, etc. Just my opinion so far.