Here's one...
When you select to place a component, click on the component that is in the Properties browser by default. A little search bar should pop down at the top of the list you'd normally scroll through. Just start typing part of the name of the family and one or more choices should start popping up. Faster than scrolling...
If by some odd chance my nattering was useful -- that's great, glad to help. But if it actually solved your issue, then please mark my solution as accepted