Welcome to 3Reef! If you do a search in the forums you will get some hits about using crushed coral vesus sand for your substrate. Some will say no problem, some will say you have to clean it frequently. Others don't like it at all. 
As far as the precured live rock. I would definitely go that route. And there's two of those. One is the rock that is aquacultured here in the states, collected and never really leaves the water. So curing the rock is something that doesn't need to be done. They scrape off anything they know isn't going to live so it doesn't die off in their tanks on land. Then they ship it next day air to your airport or house so there should be little no no die off. It kinda depends on how far away you are from them (shipping time) and ambient temperatures. The other stuff is the figi and other rock that comes from overseas, sits in curing vats while all the good stuff dies off cause it was out of the water for so long. I agree with you on the pain of curing rock, I don't want to go there either. Good Luck
Jim
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90 Gallon glass, 135#'s of rock and 2" sand. 2-250w 20k XM metal halides. 2-95 watt actinic VHO, 4 powerheads, Coralife skimmer. Maroon Gold Striped Clown, Blue Chromis, Kole Tang, Pygmy Angel, Serpent Star, Brittle Star,Gorgonians, Mushrooms, Yellow Polyps, Turbo Snails & Blue Legged Hermits. 20 gal sump with Caulerpa, Mag 7 return pump. | 
