I think the most successful techniques are those where you can hide the stitches in the ditch from the front. I know you don't want a flange, but for me that one comes out the neatest. If no flange is needed, I stitch to the front first, press to the back, pin, pin, pin, then SITD from the front.
I think my aversion to hand finishing comes from my first sewing experience. We made everything back in the day and I remember doing miles of hand rolled hems on linen handkerchiefs. I think I was 6 or 7. Loved machine sewing!