I think that a mini monitor sits on a desktop or stands, etc. If it reaches from the floor to ear height (seated), that takes it into the floor standing category.
OK then, traditional design.
I'll ask some questions then, and I have absolutely no idea of the answers.
How much does the shape of an enclosure influence the sound? I know that once you have chosen the drivers and decided on vented or sealed, a minimum volume for the enclosure is determined (and internal bracing taken into account). The enclosure can be made larger than that, but do you start making tradoffs or losing performance when you go much larger?
Do you get benefits in making the enclosure deeper? Do non parallel surfaces have advantages in reducing interior standing waves? Or does sufficient internal damping (no rez) take care of any of these issues?
I think that extremely rigid enclosures have the advantage of adding as little to the resonance of the enclosure as possible and gives the greatest liklihood of adding as little coloration as possible to all of the various sounds a speaker has to recreate.
The shape of the front baffle can add to the appearance of the speaker, but will this make it tougher on DIY'ers?
Should any steps be taken to time align the drivers, or can this be done sufficiently by sloping the front baffle?
As far as pesonal preferences, I think the picture you showed of the "solid granite" speaker or something like Avalon Acoustics look better than a purely rectangular cabinet. I am not a fan of the clear acrylic look though.