They are both "cheats" but all's fair when it comes to staying alive.
I will respectfully disagree (tongue firmly planted in cheek). I don't see them as cheats. I see them as progress. Making fire the really old fashioned way rubbing two sticks together is an admirable skill, and one which I don't have. That said unless you are in the most dire straits, and have nothing else, why would you not use the modern tools available to you?
In my large, more complete fire kits which are carried in BOB's I have three different kinds of lighters (BIC, Zippo, Butane); three different types of matches, candles, both regular and the birthday gimmick, several types of tinder, and aluminum foil if the fire may be on a wet surface. I have ferro rods, and magnesium blocks but I really hope I never have to get that far down the list, before I get something going.
I also keep Ranger Lighters in some smaller kits, and in the car. I have a link I can share, but I use a mini BiC lighter, Electrical tape, paracord, Chapstick, and Q-tips. Tape the paracord on the side of the lighter. Keep about 6" of paracord between the lighter and the chapstick. Tape the other end on the paracord to the chapstick. Take two Q-tips and cut them in half. Push the cut end of the Q-tip into the chapstick @ 12:00 - 3:00 - 6:00 - 9:00. Rub the Q-tips in the chapstick and they will burn like candles.