You seem to be quite used to your Alt combination but as you said they really are not straightforward. I found another very simple solution, on Linux you can se

You seem to be quite used to your Alt combination but as you said they really are not straightforward. I found another very simple solution, on Linux you can set a compose key (typically Alt gr or the contextual menu key). You type one after another, the compose key and then any two keys that make sense like ' followed by e (et vice versa), it will give you a é. It is both fast and easy to work with.