There’s actually a reason for this: It’s easier to code. The blacksmith’s main job is not to just salvage, it’s to upgrade and unlock, and so having you being able to go back to the blacksmith with a theoretical upgrade in hand and having that one-stop shop for that system is good game design and also easier to code.
The main issue is that if you did not have this system in place and could salvage anywhere the question then follows “Why can’t I craft anywhere?” and then it becomes “Why do I need them to Masterwork?” and so forth and so on. Effectively creating a difficult spaghetti code mess to work with since all of these systems now have to be universally accessible at any time for any reason at any point (including points that don’t make sense).
You’re going to have to accept some amount of downtime in any video game.
First off, align things with the people you’re playing with and go to town at the same time.
Since nothing drops from monsters anymore, you should be getting drops at the same rate as your party members, unless you’re spreading out to do different content or opening different chests in a helltide. And if that’s the case, who cares when someone goes to town?
Otherwise just have someone let the group know when they’re almost full, then everyone goes to town at the same time. There you go, synced. If you’ve got the guy who doesn’t pick up anything complaining, screw him. Mats are important.
Unless you are spam farming bosses, blood maiden, or doing hordes, your inventories won’t even fill up that fast. If someone gets a whisper turn in, they can open the cache later.
Plan better with your party and learn to deal with a 1-2 minute downtime now and then. You don’t need 100% farming efficiency. This is a non-issue if you handle it properly.
Tomorrow in The News: “DIV is becoming a walking sim. People cant bear the way to the local blacksmith anymore.” “People dying / falling asleep on the way”.
You don’t have to mark them junk you can just hit Salvage All after a quick scan of your inventory. Anything you want to keep just mark favorite, then unfavorite when you stash in case you want to trade it. Going to town to salvage takes about 15 seconds or less. You’re complaining about nothing.
Because that’s the fun part of the game and why you play. The comments on this thread are ridiculous. You keep the fun stuff, and get rid of the annoying repetitive tasks.
“People dying / falling asleep on the way”.