"ObL targeted assassination was Obama's hail mary pass to get re-elected."

I think similarly, that it was a primarily political decision rather than a pragmatic one.

"Does it matter? If you think so, you're kidding yourself. Zawarhiri is still out there to become another political football."

Yes..

"The idea that ObL was really behind 911 is becoming increasingly more ludicrous, the more information out there is available.
No one has completely debunked a "conspiracy theory" about 911."

You don't have to be a 'conspiracy theorist' to suspect that in the absence of any other takers Bin Laden may well have falsely claimed the attack, not because he actually masterminded it, but instead for purposes of enhancing his prestige.