However, I see no reason not to still treat the prop as live - it's basic common sense, which loses you nothing.
Precisely.
Club member chatting to newcomers in the hangar, hand resting nonchalantly on the prop. New Student being introduced to the cockpit, switches off but being shown which key position NEVER to select until ready to start, but did !
Guess what happened !
Fortunately welcoming club member not injured - but he won't touch the prop again.
Murphy is always with us.
There is no special retardation on a magneto for starting.
Our ALPI / Rotax 912 has a third electronic ignition module, only in circuit when the key is turned to the start position, this retards the ignition on one ignition circuit only, so we start on that one ignition switch. When the starter is released, that starting module is taken out of the system and the circuit reverts to the normal ignition module. It is known as a "Soft Start" system for Rotax engines, and works well, avoiding that teeth shattering jerk if the engine doesn't start first time.