Deploy block and block configuration to production instance My clients create content and blocks in a staging environment (this is mandated by client) and then we use Deploy with Auto Deployment Plans to send the content over to the production server. They create a lot of blocks for different purposes and on the fly.

With Deploy (and UUID), while we are able to get the block copied over from staging->prod, the configuration of the block does not get transferred over. The client must login to the production environment and configure the block settings as an extra step. Is there a known way to copy over block configuration using Deploy (that is reasonable for a client with minimal Drupal knowledge)?
You should look at the Bean module as a possible alternative to answer this question. Here is a quote about its project page:


  Think of a Bean as a method to provide new types (compared to node this would be a content type) which then provides an add content interface to create as many blocks as you require (see screenshot below). The bean content can then be placed around the site just like any other block.


This module also works great in combination with the UUID and UUID Features Integration modules. And after you become familiar with the Bean module, you might find other cases in your site where you also want to use this module (which somehow compensates the fact that you need to add another module).

The video tutorial Drupal Bean module tutorial - using Bean Admin UI provides a great introduction to really understand the power of this module, and the kind of things you can do with it (by only using site building techniques, no custom coding involved). It also shows how the Bean module transforms Drupal blocks into fieldable entities.

This module only started as of D7 (because of the "entities" of course that were only introduced in D7). Those who don't use it yet should definitely start looking at it in preparation of some day upgrading to D8. Because this is what is currently shown on its project page (I added the bold markup here):


  This module has been included with Drupal 8 core. Refer to this issue for more information.