The truth is, Germany and France have overplayed their hand here. They've guaranteed there will be hard feelings and strife no matter how this plays out. This

The truth is, Germany and France have overplayed their hand here. They've guaranteed there will be hard feelings and strife no matter how this plays out. This is not a good faith deal between friends. It is instead warfare by lawyers, and the UK is being handed a very bitter defeat - maybe. If the UK takes the deal, there will be widespread resentment, and the UK will essentially lose sovereignty, and will be locked in a limbo state, much like Turkey has been for several years, negotiating with the EU. If the UK walks, there will similarly be many hard feelings, but at this point it is the only way they retain sovereignty. And its not a static situation either. By taking the deal, they lose the ability to conduct foreign affairs. By walking, they retain that, and will quickly line up deals with the US and other countries. The 3rd option, just saying "let's forget the whole thing and just be part of the EU" is also now not a good option. The negotiations with the EU show that the EU does not wish the UK well, just like many brexit proponents said. Angela Merkel and other higher ups are already talking about the need for ceding more sovereignty to the EU from the member states.