Old_Geezer - // One needs to accept that EU intransigence resulting in a likely no-deal will hit all. //
And that is precisely why the EU will not let it happen!
The EU know full well that if they wait long enough, the UK will capitulate on absolutely every single last request (never a demand!) that they wanted.
That is, until Boris appeared, and sent a shot across their bows advising that he is absolutely prepared to march the UK out without a deal.
Suddenly the battle plans are re-drawn. the EU can no longer sit across the table with its arms folded and a smug expression, it actually has to sit down and really negotiate with someone who appears to know what the word 'negotiate' actually means.
This hasn't happened before, which is the farce the previous negotiators faffed us into - but it's happening now, and the EU needs to get a shift on and get a deal sorted, and watch this space - they will.