whats the point in doing these quests for 3-60 min time reductions?
In a way, this was actually asked for, I believe. There was feedback that some players wanted smaller rewards all along the way during events, rather than a single (or multiple) prize(s) at the end. There was concern that some newer players could not complete a full event, but would enjoy participating up to a point, if they could receive something for their effort. I do remember when 1 KP was precious, or when a 15 min time boost made the difference between completing an event vs. missing it.
Plus, if you add the instants up, they can be significant. Nothing says you have to use only one instant at any given time. They can be used in succession, effectively stacking their effect, and they can be more flexible in smaller increments. I really like them. When used strategically, they have gotten me out of some major jams or helped to rapidly get through the next needed quest(s).
Of course, the old adage still holds true: "You can please some of the people some of the time......"