"I think that is the case... but should that even matter? As long as the rotor button points at the notch when the cam and crank are at 0°, it should be able to start.

Right. That's what I'm suggesting. But in your 1st post, you said the rotor was past the notch, with cam and crank at 0°, didn't you? (see excerpt below)

"Temporarily. . . set no. 1 piston to TDC by turning the pulley until its notch lined up with the "0" mark on the lower timing cover. Noticed that the position of the distributor rotor button indicated that ignition timing was advanced--the button was turned perhaps 10 or 12 degrees past the little notch..."

If that's the case (and cam & crank agree at 0°), just loosen the distributor hold-down and adjust it till the rotor centerline also points at the 0° reference notch.

Forgive me if I've confused the issue. I'll back off for now.
--
Bruce Young
'93 940-NA (current) — 240s (one V8) — 140s — 122s — since '63.