I know what you mean, maybe a bad choice of wording on my part. Regardless, if the cam sensor is not set correctly the car will not start. Is that correct?
It has been my experience over the last 27+ years that if the cam sensor is set wrong, not only will it start, but will run and drive, although not all that well. Set 180 it will start and drive, set 90 0r so out, it likely will start, but not run well at all.
Now, with that being said there are cam sensor failure modes that will prevent the car from starting, such as broken shaft, sheared gear pin, sheared window pin. IOW a no rotation mode on attempting to start will not allow a start.
Once started though the cam sensor can be unplugged and the car will continue to run!