The axle sits flush to the forks when fitted correctly. The hub required is not a 'boost' variant, it takes a normal 90's 20mm bolt through hub. I ran Hope Big Uns with my team riders' bikes.
Why not bite the bullet and give Manitou a ring Stateside?
Got some Motolites on my road/gravel bike, stop on a dime and no issues. Initially mated to Altek levers on a flat bar and now with 105 road levers on drops, working flawlessly.
Flipside..... there are some amazing tiny one-man bike companies in the UK right now; Rideworks, BTR, Coal Bikes are just three of them, and long may they continue.