For me it is definitely a tempting game changer and I've googled nearly the same route: like yours, but via Tunisia for the more convenient ferry options.

I absolutely like this new option. It would be more Sahara, than I´m dreaming of and it would be cheaper than the previous options driving to northern Africa, as I'd save myself +3000km worth of pricey EU fuel and French speed tickets.

Starting in central Europe towards the African Atlantic, it always felt like wasting time and fuel through mostly known areas (Germany, France, Spain) spending the best part of a week and 1k€ before I see something exciting in Morocco to then continue into a dead end, where I'd have to u-turn and +50% of the returning route is again already known turf.

Now I could drive to Genova in a loooong day, hop onto 100€ over-night ferries to Sardinia, then to Sicily (both is known surf and turf, too, but I´d surf the next day - not next week and food is just better) then to Tunis.

As far as I understand it, Tunisia - Algeria border is quite straight forward, if you have an invitation letter or hotel booking and I assume the crossing from Algeria into RIM will be visa on arrival for my German passport, like it is when coming into RIM from Morocco/DZ or Senegal. So this is visa wise a very low effort trip, without big planning in advance needed.