CS: “obviously- clearly alive physically would be the most straightforward, ie be option a. Nobody was looking for an option b, pre Gimmel Tammuz, although the Rebbe alluded to it.”
Once again, you are evading the issue. As yankel berel pointed out, and as I remember clearly, pre-Gimmel Tammuz the official Lubavich line was NOT that the best option is that Mashiach is alive, but that IT HAS TO BE SOMEONE WHO IS ALIVE AT THAT TIME. The standard line was, “Look around. Who is there alive today who is more worthy of being Mashiach than the rebbe. Therefore it must be the rebbe!”
There was no, “If it’s someone who is alive…”
Btw in reply to your question as to who I heard it from that the LR only wanted women to learn gemoro directly related to the halachos in which women are obligated, I won’t tell you his name, because I don’t want the innocent (namely me) to suffer. But I can assure you it was someone high up who heard it directly from one of the LR’s secretaries.