Several Ravenloft quests have the feature that keys and other stuff you pick up in quests is virtual, e.g. anyone in a group can pick up a key and everyone can then open the lock that requires the key.

This is obviously excellent way of how to deal with this stuff, because it can no longer happen that a party member goes AFK, or dies and drops the item, or similar unpleasant stuff.

Going forward, this seems like an excellent way to go. But if it isn't too much hassle, it might be worth it to revisit older quests, most notably VON5, but also classics like Redwillow Ruins or Gwylan's Stand, and introduce this awesome mechanic.