Remove the drain valve, install a T such that there is a straight path from the drain and one at right angles to that. Install ball valves on both branches, attach the cold water pipe to the valve perpendicular to the straight path, and a hose adapter on the other, which will be the drain. It will be kind of bulky, but if there is space for it, that wouldn't be a problem. I think what would mostly happen with the sediment is that it would be blown up into the tank by the incoming water, especially when the hot water is running full. However, I think mostly what would happen from this is that it would cause an asymmetric distribution of the sediment in the tank, with a large depression near the water inlet, and more elsewhere. Sediment might rise all the way to the outlet, but more likely it would just swirl around near the base of the tank.
This might make it harder to get the sediment out, in that one could not blast water from the inlet and drain the tank at the same time. On the other hand, the water going in would go inward along the base towards the center, where it would either bounce off the central flue (gas) or go straight across (electric), which should stir up the bottom very well, at least along that path.
On the other hand, if there is already a water inlet with a dip tube, which there will be, I don't see enough advantages to justify a retrofit like this.
