I tend to cheat. I look ahead on Wowhead for what the quest gives me. If it ends with just me running around for no real helpful result. I just stop and move on to other more helpful quests. I might do them on my solo chars, so I have to collect less stuff and see the lore, but not my boxing that makes me pick up lots of items. Other things, is BGs give exp, WG weekly will give exp, etc. so not much reason to do every single quest ever. I tend to say, "I need a new weapon, what is a quest that gives it to me." I look up and it says I need to do a quest chain X112Y. I will pretty much do anything in that chain, so I can have that item, even if it is a collection quest.