I assumed they already had a camera in shot and would either manually keyframe or use an expression to 'automate' the movement - or do it the really hard way in 2D and keyframe the position and scale of the object (or create a totally separate effect in AE and comp that back in.).

Really I'd do it in a real 3D package like Maya or Max and comp it back in, but from what I've seen of AE's capabilities it should work OK, but I also am not an expert in After Effects, I have only ever used it when clients specified it as a requirement.