No more bleak that it ever was. Yesterday's men and their ridiculous views are of no interest/consequence. No matter how much publicity the media give them.
The issue at present is, as it always has been since kicking off Article 50 (and before), the EU's refusal to progress anything. At present they know the border issue is only something they can solve but all they do is claim it's not their problem and in almost 2 years have come up with nothing acceptable. Having the cheek to insist that the UK comes up with a solution they will accept (as if) knowing that no one is going to give the border agreement priority over controlling one's own nation so on exit it's out of the UK's hands. On exit we can leave our side open but it requires the RoI and EU to come up with a system/agreement that keeps them 'border happy'. Only they can do that but instead suggest sarcastically that the UK has part of it remain under EU control. What a bunch of unmentionables. Even May's capitulation offer which would have caused uproar in her party, parliament, and the country, had it progressed, was rejected.
No, the EU, and their supporters who encourage them, are forcing the no-deal; like it or not. Call that bleak if you want. Ultimately it's taking the tempoary hit that the EU is forcing, and then rising again in a much more acceptable new situation.