It's not just ELCI's that need to be with in 10' of the inlet. Technically the rule reads that if a shorepower inlet is more than 10' from a main
shore power breaker additional
fuses or circuit breakers for the feed must be provided with in 10' of the inlet. The ELCI rule than reads that the ELCI must be installed at the main shore
power disconnect or at the additional circuit protection required if the main disconnect is not within 10' of the inlet (which ever is closer)
To translate that ABYC does not want a large length of unprotected cable permanently installed in the boat (technically the shore
power cable will have a breaker at the power
pedestal but given a number of possible Issues you shouldn't rely on that). So they recommend that an appropriate form of circuit protection be installed within 10' of the shore power inlet. Than the ELCI rule adds that the ELCI should be placed at the closest point of protection to the inlet.
Personally I think I would just run the cable to an inlet at the back of the boat unless I docked bow too a lot.
If I were going to install the inlet at the bow I would place an ELCI somewhere that is easily accessible in the forward
cabin and look at it to check polarity when ever I plugged in.