“I said that I could, not that I would.”
I’m wondering whether “iba a hacer” would be out of place here, talking about what I didn’t say I would do.
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I’m still wondering. 
Yes, it doesn’t convey the same idea as fuera. With Iba you express that you didn’t have the intention to do it in the future.
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It’ll take some time for me to internalize this subtle distinction. 
Maybe I didn’t explain it easily. Bear in mind that fuera is subjunctive and iba indicative, maybe it’s easier to remember the differences.
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Fuera insists on the uncertainty, but as podia is used as a contrast/opposition here, I think that you are correct that iba is semantically much more appropriate as an effective negation of podia, removing the hypothetical angle.
Clever! I would not have paid attention to it at first blush!
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