the problem is that I write a lot of these emails and they are a waste of my and everyone elses time

Thanks much for hearing me out.

If you want the issue fixed as fast as possible, then you should try to help the maintainers as much as possible. Make an example app! Even if it takes extra time for you, it will ultimately lead to your issues getting fixed faster.

Slack messages should be considered asynchronous communication, and you should not expect an instantaneous response; you have no idea what the other person is doing.

If you must send a work-related private message, don't start a conversation with "Hi" or "Hey" as that interrupts their work without communicating anything. If you have a quick question, just ask the question directly