I agree, real cooking is done with heat.
The answer to your question, depends mostly how you like your steak done.
Restaurants usually sear both sides, then move the steak to an area of indirect heat or oven to finish the inside.
To get a good char, you want very high heat, and meat that has a dry surface. If the surface is wet, as the moisture it evaporates, it cools the meat and that usually works against you.
The more rare you like the center, the colder you want your steak when you cook it. Unless it's really thick, then you want it to warm up somewhat, before cooking.
A lot of gas grills today do not get hot enough to do a proper steak. In that case, I put a grill grate right on top of the burner(s). (This will ruin those fancy porcelain grates, so use an inexpensive, or stainless one). You now have a sear burner that will sear/char very quickly, a minute or two in each side with the lid open, then move the steak to the higher grates, reduce the heat in that area, and close the lid for say 5-10 minutes, depending on how you like your steak done.
If the meat sticks to the grate, don't force it, it will release on it's own, just be patient and keep gently checking it.
My favorite method is to use my high btu Cajun cooker to cook steaks. I made a 1/2" thick stainless griddle, which I heat up until it's glowing. (You can use a cast iron frying pan). Coat both sides of the steak with melted butter and seasoning, (Cajun seasoning is wonderful), and toss it on. (This makes a lot of smoke). The butter will sizzle and keep the steak from touching the hot griddle, and the intense heat produces an excellent charred crust. I can completely char the outside, and still have a cold center if I want, using this method. It's simply a matter of time and temperature.
My favorite steak is a big 1" thick porterhouse, charred on the outside, medium on the inside. :drink: