Regardless of your greater wisdom, I want to experiment with it anyway for my own personal satisfaction. Sorry, but I have to learn through mistakes.
I've tied a func_rotating to a regular block, checked the "START ON" flag, and yet it does not move at all. Am I missing some fundamental component here?
edit: I've added damage which will be inflicted if the player tries to impede the movement of the not-moving block. The block still doesn't move but when you move against its edge you begin to take damage regardless. This doesn't make any sense - any ideas on why the block is still not rotating?
edit2: I have discovered that the block is moving, but you just can't see it. Graphically, the block remains static, and does not move in anyway. However, if you stand in a patch of open air in the path of its rotation, you do get damaged eventually. The block is rotating, but you just can't see it change position.