I like polyurethane most, since I dislike the repeat maintenance of other options, and like the resilience of polyurethane, but I find it's a pain to get it right - I usually have an algorithm of try, wait, sand it down, try again, wait more, sand more, repeat a couple times until I'm satisfied.

If you're okay with periodically re-applying, and don't need the durability of poly, something like tung oil is a great choice - wipes on super easy and looks fabulous. Sibling comment has great recommendations in this domain.

On gumminess - it sounds like it didn't cure correctly? Could be environmental factors, (temp/humidity) could be uneven application, etc. I also find I have to leave polyurethane alone for a looooong time for it to cure properly - I try not to touch the final coat for a week or more. I try to do very thin coats, sanding between each coat, for 2-3 coats, then for the final coat I use a spray polyurethane which seems to lie flat a bit better.

I definitely applied it in my garage in the summer and only let it sit for a day or so.

Danish oil is great for this. It is half polyurethane and half oil. You can get it in clear or tinted. Takes about 72 hours before you can use it. Until it soaks in, the piece is tacky.

If you aren’t looking for something do heavy duty, plain mineral oil from the laxative aisle at Walmart is $2 a bottle. If you want to make that more heavy duty, mix it 50/50 with beeswax and heat until wax dissolves. Then let cool and you’ll have what looks like candle paraffin. Work that into the wood and you’ll have it sealed. You will need to reapply it every so often (probably once a year but depends on use). Not a permanent seal but no harsh chemicals used and you get to keep caring for your special piece of furniture which some people find satisfying.