@ARSo
a] As far as I remember RASHI says ‘kegon’ Daniel. Not that Daniel is the only possibility if its min hameitim . There are other possibilities.
So j would NOT be excluded according to that pshat of RASHI.
b] I am not ‘concerned’ about RAMBAN excluding j [because of his death], because he is contradicting RASHI. He contradicts RASHI many times.
I am rather, ‘very concerned’ why RAMBAN sees fit to present to vulnerable Jews AND powerful gentiles alike, a proof , which is so easily refutable.
Refutable with DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES.
Its refutable by the gmara , even without RASHI, as you correctly noted. The gmara could be telling us that a dead mashiach is not automatically disqualified.
And that puts into doubt the whole premise of RAMBAN, the foundation of the yahadut upon which he exhorts all yehudim to build their emuna.
And even more so, since RASHI possibly interprets the gmara that way.
c] Re having it back to front.
Not at all , this is very simple. The mashiach job is a very appealing job.
Admittedly not to everyone, but certain types of individuals would be VERY attracted to it.
As history amply bears witness.
RASHBA and RAMBAM and the rabbanim after tach vetat, for example, could tell you a thing or two about this . They all had to counter false messiah claims in their generations.
How can we know the difference ? The difference between the real and the plastic . The difference between the authentic and the forged ?
It’s obvious that RAMBAM is concerned about separating the chaff from the wheat : how will we know how to differentiate ?
Only as RAMBAM rightly points out [hilch melachim] : RESULTS.
The plastic and the forged will not be able to produce verifiable results.
Whereas the true one, will.
Now , let’s ask you . If the plastic and the forged one [or his followers for that matter] are able claim that a so called second coming will clear up all the left over mess, then we are back to square one.
Any failed , forged or plastic one , will say – I am still the right one . Just wait until I reappear.
.
Think about this.