MC,
Firstly, as i have pointed out, it is utterly silly and naive to base something as sensitive as such of an issue on a few diyukim in a Rambam. This subject is not for קטנים כערכינו – only true Gadolie vPoskei hador can Maybe have a say.
Just to prove how these diyukim hold no water i will respond.
ואם לא הצליח עד כה,
Means simply the very same as dying.
The Rambam OBVIOUSLY didn’t have to spell out somethings so silly that ONLY nowadays Meshicists can capably say. If you are dead – you are done. Its common sense. No need to spell it out.
Now, why then did he have to write out:
או נהרג— the answer is simple: yes, being a martyr dying in war or in process of mosheach, common folks did associate with dying על קדוה”ש and thus another step towards the final step and indeed fit for mosheach (In fact, it does say that it is part of the process, though l משיח בן יוסף, ואכ”מ”. ) that is why he has to spell it out. But “dead” מהיכ”ת!
….. לא עלה על דעתו כלל וכלל שיהי’ איזה צורך
On the same note, when Shabtai Tzvi was arrested the Gadolim advised that he should not be persecuted, as that will make matters worse etc, explanation was exactly as above.
Instead he was given a choice to convert to Islam. Once he converted the truth was finally clear to all. And even with that, he still had sort of a following believing he will reappear and explained his conversion as a process of tikun Al Pi Kabbalah etc.