Hate drywall but would like to be spared the wood/lath plaster job this time.Is durock w/ skim coat ok?

To get a finish coat with regular diamond plaster instead of regular drywall ( also called gypsum board) use plaster board. This type of drywall has a dark blue paper and is known as blue board. Because this type is finished with diamond plaster the finished result is the same as your plaster and lath walls.