longer durations within a given lift contributes to steeper ramps
That's a design feature, not an engineering requirement. The ramp must be faster when the valve has less time to open.
Not sure if we're saying the same thing. I'm open to gaining a better perspective. But basically, unless I'm misunderstanding something, the longer the duration at a set lift, the less room there is left for the ramp, so it has to be more aggressive/steeper. That's where the exaggerated term "square lobes" come from. It doesn't look like one has a choice.
