Why play the game for the collectibles? Set yourself a different challenge. For instance, I'm breeding three tribes for hair color, while two of them are still struggling to stay alive. I really don't care much about having to wait on the collectibles, because I have something to do when I get there.

It's an open-ended game; the collectibles are there to enrich the late game, not to exist, all alone, as the late game. Trying to 'finish' an open-ended game just to finish it is . . . kinda silly, to me.