If the lights go out, the person with the flashlight is better prepared than the person feeling their way down the stairs.
If someone grabs you around the neck, the knife aids in an easier escape.
Whatever - do what you think is best as the neck grab in the low crime area is gentler than in the high crime area.
I also pointed out that one can carry the typical gear if you know how.
But, it's no skin of my back if you are in the intense situation and don't have the stuff.
To be pragmatic, we can't always walk around with long arms. But it is doable to have a semi, mag, knife, light, phone. That seems a reasonable level of gear vs. reasonable intense scenarios - mall, school, church rampage. A platoon attack on you - well, then you might need air cover.