Eleanor Burns has a technique where she sews the fusible web to the piece and then turns it inside out and irons the piece to the background - thus giving the appearance of needle turn, then she sews it down. A friend of mine did it - she liked the appearance but felt she was doing everything twice. There was no gummy residue on the needle.
Your idea of using the double sided makes perfect sense.
I have not used Steam a Seam but maybe it is not made for appliqué - just a quick fix for hems. The only time I had a problem with a fusible was when I bought velcro that was peel-n-stick, and thought I would catch the edges with my machine and it did nasty things to my needle. (Had to throw it away that stuff was so stuck.) But I have used Pellon's fusible webs without a problem.