Really don't think America was after getting Osama alive. What then.. was the question they had, I think.
The big worry was, wouldn't that make him a martyr even more so.. being alive and in prison somewhere. Keeping him imprisoned somewhere
awaiting a trial wasn't an option. How to link Osama directly with 9/11 in said trial would also be very hard, I reckon.
Those options (amongst others) would most probably increase the hatred against the West of them radical religious morons even worse so.
Aim was, to get him.. dead or.. yeah, dead, I think. Throwing his body in the ocean was also an attempt to not make a bigger martyr of the fuck (to those who followed him).
No place to worship him too when there no grave at all.