Ron, you’re right about the electric planer tear out. I take very light passes, and then put a new sharp edge on my Lie Nielsen 4 1/2 smoothing plane which produces a nice result. But I still finish up with some sanding.
As for finishing, I am a big fan of the hard wax oil finishes. I have tested Rubio monocot, Osmo Polyx,, Tried, and True, and Odie’s oil. My go-to for Maple is Osmo, because it is the least yellowing of them all. If I finish a piece that is solid walnut where a little warmth looks good, I like the Tried & True finish. The Rubio Monaco finish is too flat for my taste. The others produce a nice soft satin finish with a couple of coats.
If you haven’t used a hard wax finish before, be sure to follow the manufacture directions. With Osmo, you rub in a light coat and then remove every bit of residue within five or 10 minutes. If you leave it on too long. It gets too tacky.