Can you post a picture?

Is the existing curb pitched slightly into the shower? If not, that would probably be the easiest fix. You could even do a mock up prior to doing any work to make sure that the drips flow into the shower. For glass doors, I highly recommend wood framing behind the hinges so the hinge screw threading finds solid purchase. Glass doors are heavy. You want the top hinge well-secured.

I think the two approaches are completely different Erik. You are bonding tile directly above in your example right? The LynCarr example will see 1.5" - 2" of reinforced mortar. So not really apples to apples. Your head gravel work looks better than what happens on most showers where the fellow grabs a small handful or rocks. I think we should re do this test that took place in California. Can't be too hard. Lets just test a few of our set ups. I would like to see Mapei's 4-1, Mapei's 4-1 mixed with admix vs Laticrete 3701 & maybe an old fashioned home mix of 5-1. Set them into simple boxes with a clamping drain. Give them 1.5" of mortar and see what works best. The NTCA and the TCNA have nothing scheduled to study this to my knowledge. They might talk about it. Share and email about it. But they are not looking deeper into it. I really think we all our heads in the sand if we ignore the warning. Someone has got to step up....

Grout is not waterproof, so a hole in the grout -- although it should be repaired -- is not a calamity leading to leaks. What prevents leaking is the hidden waterproofing under the pan...as long as it was done correctly.