I've had so much trouble with foam pads - including a pack of the Stix to ones, that I've all but stopped using them and almost always use glue gel now, or photo glue. I also use DST when appropriate, but not foam pads. I have a huge bag of them and will probably use them in 'clumps' on the back of large pieces of decoupage to use them up. As you say, Jacqui, the tiny ones are rubbish and almost impossible to get the backs off.
I have a feeling foam pads might gradually fade out, as I'm sure they aren't nearly as popular as they were, especially since Pinflair and Collal produced the glue gel.
Janet