We recently had a chance to eat at a Thai restaurant for the first time
and really loved the sweet/sticky rice. I've tried to read up as
much as I can on cooking it, but there seem to be quite varied
approaches (soak it, don't soak it, steam it, don't steam it, etc.,
etc.)

I've got the sweet rice. As of now, don't have a rice cooker or
bamboo steamer or anything of that nature-- but could certainly pick
one up if it would make a big difference. In any case, does someone
have suggestions on how to cook the rice-- either with a basic
pan/stovetop setup, or else with a rice cooker or steamer?

Thanks!