Yup, I agree that the steering wheel lights could be brighter. Can't see how that would affect your night vision in the way that cranking up the display below the windshield does.
My partner has a wonderful 2002 Jetta Wagon he runs on biodiesel (which he makes himself). One of the "points of comparison" we made between our two cars is the Jetta's wonderful interior night lighting. Red lights on blue background. Every control is illuminated, though not so bright as to distract.
The instrument panel is soft dark blue with red numbers and pointers. The radio cluster down the center of the dash, almost to the floor, is also nicely illuminated. I wonder, though, what happens when it comes time to replace all those bulbs, although they may be diodes.
My Prius, on the other hand, is really dark at night except for the TV in the dash and the speedo number below the windshield.
If anyone finds out how to increase the brightness of the steering lights, let us know.
Bob