What they should have done from the beginning is to publicly posture as seeking negotiations, and then offering little to nothing to the Communist-in-Chief in private.
I like your plan but the GOP should have also continued to pound on the Congressional subsidy and pushed for an individual mandate delay. They should have run some TV ads against vulnerable Dems. Reid went ballistic over the subsidy issue because he knew it was a winner for the GOP.
The GOP scoring points on offense would have reduced Dem appetite for this crisis. Under pressure they may have cut a deal more favorable to the GOP. Now a timid GOP leadership has fumbled away any chance of that.
You're right. You'd think they could find a strategist somewhere with a clue.