Request for advice

Looking for some advice from anyone who has recently applied for a Czech Schengen visa.

My background:
- UK resident (BRP/eVisa)
- Valid US visa with previous travel
- Previous used Schengen visas: Germany (2017 for 22 days), Switzerland (2022 for 10 days), Portugal (latest visa was a 3-month multiple-entry visa - did 5 short trips) - in all cases started the journey with the country that approved the visa

My husband:
- UK resident (BRP/eVisa)
Previously granted a 1-month Schengen visa but did not travel due to work commitments
Travel history includes Japan (3-month work assignment last year), Thailand and Dubai/UAE

We're planning to apply through the Czech Republic and are hoping for a longer-validity multiple-entry visa (ideally 6 months or 1 year).

A couple of questions:

- Has anyone recently applied through the Czech Republic? What validity did you receive and how was the experience?

- Czech visa requirements mention confirmed tickets. For those aiming for a longer-validity multiple-entry visa, would you recommend:
(1) Showing one 8–10 day trip (e.g. fly into Prague and return from another Schengen city),
(2) Showing a shorter Prague trip now and a second planned trip later in the year (e.g. Christmas markets in Germany/Austria/Czech Republic)?

- In your experience, what factors helped you obtain a longer-validity multiple-entry visa rather than a visa valid only for the travel dates?

Any recent experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!