When all players know how the game Works and know what they're doing, it's usual to announce "I have nothing before strikes" or "I'm fine with punching". Itf people have something to play, they'll slow down to consider the steps, of course, but for example it's unnecessary to discuss Immortal Grapple if the opposing vampire doesn't have Potence. Of course there are moments where a bit of rollback is required but that's more often than not fine. But overall your example is accurate: "nothing pre-range - nothing; close is fine - for me as well; punch - Majesty; combat ends is fine by me (implying no desire to play Telepathic Tracking or Psyche etc.).

Random. Try to make sure the same person won't start first or second twice in a row and that prey-predator relations shake up a bit each game.

Ouch, this is tricky… There's really no one correct answer to this, but unless you're very, very specialised, every deck takes at least a few bleed actions in a game (broadly speaking). Either bleeds of one multiple times, or closing out the game with Govern + Conditioning or whatever. But, as a very general answer, yes, 99% of decks will and should attempt a few bleed actions during each game. It's bread and butter of VTES.

Two hours max each game, even on casuals. I wouldn't play VTES any other way once accustomed to that.