I have a pair of Suzue Promax hubs, and the front axle is flatted the way you describe. I always wondered why, and I still wonder why. I mean, you're not going to apply torque to the front wheel, right?

It's annoying because when you tighten the axle nuts, the wheel slips around and can wind up off-center in the fork.

This doesn't really help you, does it? Unless that axle happens to fit in a shimano rear hub...