Alcohol might cost $15/gal but that's really cheap compared to butane canisters. A gallon cooks a lot of meals. The butane gas is cheap. Like printer ink, it's the containers that you're paying for.
For priming an Optimus, I carry a small bottle of lighter fluid. Just squirt a teaspoon down the stem into the bowl. It's a lot easier and faster than screwing with other methods. An eyedropper is also supposed to work well but I've never tried it.
