is it me or are certain items like sulfur hard to collect when at those spots to collect items. i don't mind doing the collecting but wish the harder items would pop up more

I never farmed that, but with vacuum and the skill mining (or collecting, im not sure) you should get some in one night afk.

i have gotten roughly 10 in a 24-hr period but when making multiple of the same thing for alts then it can b frustrating

I don't play but sometimes i check how things going in the game. I was 1 hour with vacuum in Kelan cave and got 1 sulfur (I have lvl 11 mining skill).
I forgot that you can get when fishing, you should try that too.
Good Luck