I always use a stick about 2" around and 12" long for a mallet instead of a hammer. It works real good.
As far as shtf kits, a lee loader isn't any better than a standard die set with hand press. The hand press doesn't take up enough weight or space to justify losing the advantages it offers. Chiefly, the ability to use any dies you might scavenge. Other calibers, M die, universal decapper, lee sizing dies for your cast bullets. Though I suppose in a pinch you could use the lee sizing dies whack-a-mole style.
The disadvantage of the lee hand dies is that they don't full length size. Maybe not an issue in times of plenty but in shtf, you may scavenge brass and need to full length size it. You could always add a Lyman hand die, but then you defeat the idea of a compact all in one pocket reloading kit.
All the said, yes they are neat and have their place.