So with most ore, you can craft it into blocks. The only two blocks that don't do this are coal and redstone. While coal is somewhat understandable that there is no mineral block to go with it, I think redstone should have a block similar to a block of iron or gold. The crafting recipe would be the same as iron and gold, nine redstone in the crafting grid makes one block. Likewise, one block would give you nine redstone. Since redstone lights up when activated, the block of redstone would do the same when powered but with a relatively low light level. Maybe it could act similar to redstone dust so you don't have to have a thick wall or a dent in the middle. With the update to the lighting system in 1.8, it could be possible to give the light a red tinge to it. As for texture, it would be the same as lapis lazuli blocks but red. While this doesn't really do much as a storage vessel like iron and gold blocks, it would be a nice decorative block and does serve a use as a powerable material.
Edit: I changed my idea of the texture after taking a look at the Lapiz Lazuli texture and thought that a similar texture would fit redstone better.
Yup i agree, being able to turn redstone into blocks would be awesome.
I would like to add one more thing though and thats the ability to turn gem and ingot blocks to stairs.
Would be awesome to make a redstone stairs (carpet look) or golden throne.
Edit: I changed my idea of the texture after taking a look at the Lapiz Lazuli texture and thought that a similar texture would fit redstone better.
looking at tomanyitems, it says "redstone ore" so uhm.....
Nuff Said
If Redstone isn't then Lapiz Lazuli isn't, but yet blocks are made out of it, soooo...
I would like to add one more thing though and thats the ability to turn gem and ingot blocks to stairs.
Would be awesome to make a redstone stairs (carpet look) or golden throne.
http://www.minecraftforum.net/index.php?app=core&module=search§ion=search&do=search&fromsearch=1
Also, there is a redstone megathread:
http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/518082-redstone-megathread/