It is a mix of both in reality, yes the condensors can make normal things really fast. For regular building materials like stone, wood, dirt etc. you're looking at, even with one uncharged mk3 collector, 40 blocks per second. To give some perspective, that's a regular wooden double chest full in about a minute and a half. However, these condenser/collectors only work by having at least one of the item in the first place. Want lots of dirt well go dig some, leather? go kill a cow, iron? go mine some etc. For the more common things, I think people have them anyway but for anything more unusual we could ask to borrow it so we can duplicate it.
As for helping out, whatever final form the collectors/condensors take people are welcome to use mine if they don't have their own.