We have a total of 4 DCs between our two main locations.
If we did that, once we verify that the schema is working great would the DC we turned off update itself once we bring it back online?
Be aware that they got rid of Exchange 2010's really nice administration interface and replaced it in 2013 with a slow-as-crap website that doesn't do half as much. Just about everything useful, you've got to figure out how to script in PowerShell.
I installed a 2013 on my network, have yet to figure out how, or in what order, to migrate anything to it.
Seems Microsoft is moving backward lately.