I think the Boris approach is spot on. IMO the mistake that Theresa May made was to try and find a deal to keep everyone happy, and in so doing the deal presented made pretty much nobody happy.
Brexit is too divisive for any compromise. Better to satisfy the majority and allow the minority to suck it up. If that leads to an election, then the people get to vote for their MPs and hence their government; another result which the minority will have to suck up.
Second referendum? That would be a disaster, especially with an option that has already been rejected.