Maybe have a command like 'remember OBJECT' that makes it so your character can see this object without searching for it every time. You have to see the object first which means you already searched for it and found it. Maybe limit the number of remembered objects based on INT score.
The idea is to remove some the oddness of searching for that exit/item you already found over and over and over and over again. At the same time, especially if the number of objects a character can remember is pretty low, this doesn't completely remove the utility of hiding things. I think it might strike a decent balance.
LEGEND