Vegetables

Very very very easy. Just run some tap water in the bottom half, put the veggies in the top, set the timer and go. Check them with a fork to tell when they're done. Simple.

How long to vegies take to cook?

Yes I knwo I should have learnt this at svhool but it was a very long time ago.

Depends on whether you like them crunchy or soft. Broccoli, carrots and the like are hard to begin with, so they take more time (about 15-20 minutes.) Green beans and other softer veggies only take 5 or 10 min. Like I said, test them with a fork and give them another few minutes if they're not done enough. You'll soon figure it out. (Kinda like microwaving.)

Im liking them soft, especially cauliflower.

Really, it isn't rocket science. The smaller the pieces, the faster they cook. Throw some in there for 10 minutes, then stick 'em with a fork. If you like 'em softer, just let 'em steam a little longer.

Just like you would if you boiled or microwaved them. Except this way is better for you.

What is the ratio of betterness.
What percentage of goodness do you get from boiled veg in comparison to steamed?

Ask someone else. I'm not into statistics.

As far as I'm concerned, if it's 1% better, it's worth doing. After all, it's no more work this way.

When you boil veggies some of the vitamins and goodness leaches into the water. This is fine if you're making soup... I don't know what the percentage is but when you steam the nutrition stays in the veggies.

And you can steam just fine in the microwave. I usually wash vegetables, leave the drops of moisture on them, and put them in a microwavable dish. Cover with plastic wrap or a tight fitting nukable lid and power for 5 minutes or so, then check.

Vegetables
If you have a microwave you can get the same result. Microwaving essentially boils down to steaming. Asparagus, in particular, works beautifully in the microwave.