The Neurocam description says "This process does not harm the target."
The Clonepod description says "Uploading a mind from a neurocam into a clone takes 10 minutes. If the mind belonged to the same creature that was used to grow the clone, it immediately comes back to life as if under the effects of a clone spell (including 2 negative levels or 2 points of Constitution drain)—provided the user's soul has not yet passed to the Boneyard and been judged."
So...
RAW seems to say that the character doesn't need to be dead to create a living clone.
RAI seems to imply that the character does need to be dead to create a living clone.
Here's another thought that amuses me...
Once you create a body with a Clonepod, you should be able to put a mind into it with Mind Seed. This should allow you to avoid any alignment-related issues with using Mind Seed.
Ahh... but you say "I'm not a Telepath!" Well, with retraining, you can be a telepath as long as you need to be to plant the Mind Seed.
Using a Neurocam is still better, of course, because your clone only suffers from 2 permanent negative levels. Mind Seed results in a clone that is 8 levels lower (or 4 levels with Mythic Mind Seed).