Maybe I'm missing something, but why not a mechanical pump with a parallel bypass containing a one way valve the electric pump located upstream from both the mechanical pump and valve? That way the electric just bypasses the mechanical pump and the mechanical pump won't pump back to the tank(s).
"I did a little checking and you can't push fuel through the VW mechanical pump so a backup system would entail, at minimum, a couple check valves and an electric pump...a bit more complicated that I care to make it."