So in the end, what did he actually do?
We don't execute people for intent. Not here, not anywhere but third world counties.
It would have set our justice system back to the days of the Salem Witch trials.
In my bank robbing scenario, "in the end, what did I do"? Plenty, according to the law. We do, in fact, execute people for intent, or even the lack of it (bankrobber wheel-people don't usually "intend" to kill anyone--this guy did). The man not only intended, but worked hard to implement his intent. That he messed up and landed in jail before the main event is irrelevant. He worked towards that goal, and deserves to die for it.
I agree with everything you have said. The prosecution just didn't make the case for death in my opinion. This nutball is going to a verrrrrry bad place. A 12 by 12 cell, concrete bed, one slit window for daylight, way up, so he can't even look out of it. And he will never get to go outside. No martyrdom for the Al-Quaeda pizza gopher...It's justice to me.