Afew updated comments. I finished an 11 day Quetico trip and a 4 day Canada camping/fishing trip using the LittlBug every day, usually 2-3 times per day.

Aluminum foil does work ok as a bottom. We put the Bug on a cooking grate suche that the coals would otherwise fall out the bottom. We used 3 layers of aluminum foil as a bottom liner and it never melted. Might be different if placed on solid ground but worked fine for us.

It worked great for boiling water in the rain. We had one demoralizing day in Quetico that was cold, windy, and raining all day long. Never even got in the canoe. My buddy firedup the stove for a spaghetti meal, no problem. He did use a fire starter. Having a stash of dry kindling is handy. I have a large bag made out of lightweight blue tarp material (50 cents at Ikea) that packs to nothing but is great for collecting and storing little sticks. That plus a small lopping tool makes for quick work of wood. Once the fire is lit, a few coal form, and you load it up with thicker sticks, you can put on a pan of water. I use a 4 qt aluminum pan with lid. Nearly covers the top of the Bug and makes it water resistent. No way we could have made a camp fire, especially with the gusting wind, but the Bug fired up.

On the other hand, you really don't need any tricks. It works well if you can otherwise build a decent fire. But a lopper, some gloves, a wood bag make life much easier.