You nailed it, efficiency is my term for the time required. Boiling is indeed incredibly slow if you have to build a fire, especially if you are dealing with damp fuel sources or do not have an ignition source. However, you could make yourself a cup of tea with a good backpacking stove in just a few minutes...

Boiling in bulk is certainly the most efficient way with a campfire as the heat source, but it comes with its own problems as you described...hiking with extra unnecessary weight is truly a burden. It is great backup plan, but not my primary choice while backpacking.

Thanks for your thoughts and insights! It is always a pleasure to field comments from you!