There is nothing wrong with blocks. Block levels were here first, and ran on machines much slower than we have today.

Just don't ever use subtract. never ever.

Block levels are great because the lighting is so easy, and are indeed pre-calculated before runtime. And that's why blocks are great. you can have 20 lights in one room, and it wont effect how fast the level runs when playing it. It will increase the build time though.

Unlike model levels where you have to add numerous dynamic lights, which do kill the framerate, or you have to fake the lighting by adding dark and bright areas to the skins, then use seperate skins for each wall with different lighting etc etc...

Learn model levels later. Make basic block levels and add models for details. Don't try to make every little thing out of blocks!

Also use the 'snap' feature... maybe set to 8 or more, but NEVER set it to '1' or 'no snapping'
This way all edges and walls and floors line up perfectly and will build faster.

Block levels are fine... just a lot of people go with models because they like to use shaders for reflection and normalmapping... but nothing beats block lighting without great pains with the skins and dynamic lights.

I have a lighting 'tutorial' in the wiki link which you should read.

Again, for the 3rd time, don't ever use subtract!

Omce you get used to level making and model making, you can move on to making levels from models.

But only do it out of some necessity, not because 'everyone else' is doing it.

Oh, one more thing... don't let blocks intersect with each other. Only let the edges and faces touch each other. But don't let a block be inside another. That takes up calculations too during building, and can affect how fast it plays to some degree.

- Jason