I believe that due to the inherent contradictions of capitalism a revolution is inevitable, and necessary, but it's still not something that is easily palatable. Revolution is certainly romanticized, yet I still question every day whether or not I would be willing to die for my beliefs. My question to my fellow comrades is do you think non-violent form of revolution is possible, or will the state and reactionaries always crack down? I know that in the past those with power and prestige have been reluctant to give it up.
I agree with you on the importance of turning the military. But doing that is often more a propaganda mission, right? Like it's rare a people beats their military into submission, or scares them into turning sides with a show of force. It's more about popular support? I'm cloudy on the historical trends; I know in the case of the Cuban Revolution it took very much both war and propaganda to ultimately turn the military.
But once you have the military, isn't it relatively bloodless from there, too? I could see it happening in a way most would call relatively peaceful. Though I'm unsure!
(fwiw, I totally agree that revolution doesn't require civil war, I think history's pretty clear there :) I'm just having fun trying to imagine!)