#1…NEVER look at what works well for other people…there are some people with great genetics and/or taking some form of steroids. Then there are a huge amount of people who don’t have any idea of how to train correctly.
I like to keep workouts to 45-60 minutes where I am going 12-15 sets total. Now if I am doing HIT the sets and time will decrease.
As for lifting till failure it is easy just stop 1-2 reps short of what you usually get for failure. Training till failure on every set is taxing on your CNS (Central Nervous System). I would pick a few exercises to train to failure and alternate them every couple of weeks. For example I have not trained squats to full failure yet…mostly b/c if I fail on a rep I will feel the pain…but I have been making great gains.
Here is something that may help. Lower the weight to something you can get roughly 10-12 reps. Do that weight 8 times, then the next week add 2.5’s and do that 8 times. Once you get to the point where it feels like the 8th rep is failure or close to quit adding weight. Then see if you can add 2.5’s everyother week. I did this for a little while and got solid results. All while making sure you are doing full complete perfect form controlled reps.