I personally don't like the taste of tea from a stainless steel mug. I
get a definite metallic taste freom it. Try bone china or porcelain.
That should improve the taste right there.

Yes, the tea leaves plenty of room to infuse. In a pinch, infuse the
tea in a pyrex cup or something, and then strain it into your teacup.

I use 1/2 tablespoon for a 9-oz cup for Ti Quan Yin.

I wouldn't pay $70 for 1/4 lb of tea unless I had tried it first. (You
have probably already figured that one out.) I *would* invest in a nice
teapot.