Well ... since those other boats probably designed it in from the start, the structure below the door took this option into consideration. One of the reasons that the Great Alaskan is lightweight, yet strong, is because the sheer structure is actually structural. It's a flat horizontal beam that opposes oil canning / hogging flex in the sheer. It's mechanically efficient compared to having multiple frames, since it's greatest strength is exactly in the direction that strength is required.
Stepping onto the sheer deck from a dock is a short step ... but stepping down into the boat is about a 27" step (unless you raise the aft deck like many do). Have you thought of other solutions such as adding railing and perhaps a flop-down stair step that hides under the sheer deck when folded up? Maybe having the fold-down step near the aft end of the pilot house would let you use the side of the pilot house as a grab rail and no railing would be necessary. Some people have put their battery boxes just outside the aft house bulkhead (f'w'd corner of the cockpit) and use it as a step for getting into the boat (add non-skid). I expect that something along these lines may alleviate a lot of the concern ... but only your better half can answer that. Maybe you can bring it up with her and get back to us. Otherwise, I do like the idea of a side door, but haven't really designed the boat (structurally) for that.
Brian
