drpinkie - did you ever resolve? I have same question...

You can use side panels or a deck/surround to create what is, in effect, a free standing bath that would work well aesthetically and, optionally, as part of a wetroom-style bathroom. Deep soaking tubs are especially effective for such projects; they have smaller footprint, which affords more room in the shower area, but their greater depth makes them exceptionally comfortable.

Master bath reno - hoping to have shower fit next to bath with shower glass fitted on top of the bath surround ( like in the photo). We don't have that much extra space around the bath. The bath edges are 3" (4" where taps could be mounted - although we will do wall mounted). Question: if we have a stone bath deck that is 4" around - is that too thin? Will it look stupid?

I think you'll have to remove the bath side panel and get to the seal thats on the overflow (pic 8 with the adjustable) and put some silicon on the seal so it seals the overflow to the back of the bath. Looking at the pic it does look like there's old silicon there which really could do with cleaning off. You can add more silicon to the seal on pic a or get a new seal, then whilst holding the overflow in position at the back of the bath in position you fix the front parts via the screw into the overflow.