So, im putting drop bars on my xc bike that im converting to a gravelish bike. I bought a origin 8 Gary sweep drop bar. I would like to keep my current 1 by 10 slx setup on my bike and use road a road brifter. I'm not concerned about brake compatibility, however because of the incompatibility between road and mtb Shimano components, I'm unsure what to do as far as drivetrain is concerned . If not integrated shifters, would a friction bar end shifter for the rear mech work across disciplines? I currently have a 11-42 rear cassette with Shimano slx rear mech and shifters with no front derailleur.

10 speed Dyna-Sys compatible.....

https://www.gevenalle.com/product/gx/

What's the advantage or appeal of converting to a dropbar?

The wolftooth tanpan works well, and if you currently have Shimano hydraulic brakes you can probably use road hydraulic levers with your current calipers.

Have you looked at the geometry of the bike vs a gravel bike designed that way from the start? They are different, enough that your going to need to make compromise to get the bike to work/fit right.

If your MTB only has disc brakes (which is almost any under 15 years old) getting disc brake, esp hydraulic will be expensive. You say your not concerned about brake compatibility, this could be a project killer, and need to be considered from the start.

Not trying to put you off, but having done what your planning on a rim brake MTB earlier in the year, it's not an easy conversion to do, purely to get the bike to be comfortable.

Your planned gear ratio looks a bit limiting, without knowing the front, 11-42 on a single chainring may be limiting. if you want to get anywhere at any sort of speed.

I like friction shifters.

Shimano 11s MTB pulls a lot of cable which is a problem for some shifters. I think 10s MTB pulls a little less cable, and should be OK.

Microshift also makes indexed bar end shifters that are compatible with MTB derailleurs.

For 10s MTB:
https://www.ebay.com/p/microSHIFT-10...m10/2255390482