My record for white color headed match light with a 160 mW blu-ray and an acrylic Axixz lens is 12 feet. So true the optics can make a big difference, the dot can be quite concentrated. Also, with shorter wavelengths, scatter from air is a big influence on distance, for greatest distance with laser beam expander or efficient telescope optics, a red laser will actually out burn a violet due to scatter, the same thing that makes the sky look blue. For under 20 feet though the air scatter is a smaller effect, and mW's, dot size and absorption of the heated material are important factors, and in the case of matches, just how dry and free of any waxy coatings they may be made and coated by and what color they are all come into play. With just the right materials, it's possible to light matches that are ideal color, coating free and dry, with about 50 mW of tightly focused light.