I think you understand things correctly.
How is used to ask about the quality/degree of something, or the manner in which something was done. When you ask someone how is X, they may respond with a details in a similar manner as what, but the reason is to communicate a quality/degree - typically "good" or "bad."
So...
How is your teacher?
She's this really weird tall lady with these crazy glasses, and she was yelling at everyone today.
The implication here is that she considers the teacher a bit intimidating, so somewhat "bad." And that's what the person asking how really wanted to know.
What's X like to me, implies that you are less interested in the person's personal feelings - rather, you want to know how X compares to other X's - than how's does. But this can be influenced either way greatly by context.
Q: What's the weather like over there?
A: It snows a lot down here, and sometimes it rains.
Q: So usually, how's the weather over there?
A: It snows a lot down here. But it's raining now.
Q: How's the weather?
A: Rainy. Take a jacket.
Q: What's the weather like?
A: Today? It's rainy.
Best Answer
They could be. This is just a matter of which is more commonly said.
In AmE, one usually refers to
But
Perhaps this is because a procedure typically includes sequential steps; whereas a method may be more general (as guidelines or rules), and not necessarily sequential.
Consider a simple example.
Procedure A:
1) do this
2) do that
3) do something else
4) do the last thing
Method B:
• record all results on the Lab Notes
• make sure all equipment is clean
• measure carefully
• do not copy from others' Lab Notes