Is there a way to navigate the file system more efficiently in Blender? I feel like I waste a lot of time clicking around trying to find files in Blender's file navigation system. Is there any way to use the python shell or some plugin for navigating the file system more easily? The "Recent" folders is helpful, but not quite fast enough...
If you know the path you want, You can copy and paste it into the address bar. That'll take you straight to where you want to go!

For me, I keep all of my related files local to the blender file, as if the blender file is a main project.