I typically just use capture and refile, almost never enter new things directly. I have a few templates for often-used things (work, personal, funny things my kids say), and then I either just file it directly or if I know it should go under some tree I C-c C-w to immediately refile it there. I use selectrum for completion with selectrum-prescient so my most used refiling goals are at the top of the list, and if I have to filter the list it's typically just two or three characters until I find the heading I'm after.