re: If you ever get completely lost in the wild the best advice is to stop and stay put

This really depends on who you are and WHERE you are. If you are in Brazil or Africa, and are lost stay put.

Where I hunt in Mississippi you can't walk for more than a couple of miles without hitting a road. So I am not staying put.

Also the who you are matters. Are you familiar with the area? Can you figure out directions using the sun or stars, topography?

There is no one answer fits all situations.