@PatR I don't want to take this thread to a political talk, but it's a fact, that the UK and Germany were the ones with a say in EU legislation - okay, and the French too ?. But by leaving, the UK will lose its voice and the dream of bilateral talks with single EU countries just can't happen due to unified laws for all member states. And to be honest, bilateral deals with the US won't be that nice for the UK, as the history has shown, as for Mr Trump only a good outcome for himself is a "great deal" - not caring about the "casualties". US investors are already targeting the UK's official health care system and want it to be open for the private market - and I could imagine, the British people wouldn't be that happy with a health care "American style". So the UK would be an easy target for all foreign interests just due to its size and standing in international markets.
In my opinion, the UK suffers the same evolution many countries, including Germany, are recognizing: the worldwide development is speeding up in a way, that's much too fast for people to hold up with and this causes fears about the future. People want to go back to the comfy past when "everything was clear". For Germany I can say, that we are lacking a real vision for the future - that's what I really miss. Chancellor Merkel lead the government "from behind" (some kind of "follow me, I'm right behind you" ?). There has been no discussion about how we want to go on, how to prepare for the upcoming challenges - same is for the EU. You can't unite without a statement about where you want to go. And without a plan, without the countries pulling on one rope, just trying to gain benefit for themselves, there is potential for disappointment and a wish to return to "safe haven". And then there are all the people with their simple answers: "everything was better the ol' days" - but it wasn't. But the challenges of the future will be much more challenging then everything in the past. We've become aware that endless growth on a limited planet won't play out, that due to more robots and AI there won't be full-time jobs for everyone, a climate change (man made or not) we have to adopt to and many, many more questions we don't have easy answers for. In my opinion, we would need some kind of Elon Musk or Steve Jobs, people with a vision for the future or even more, a talent to excite people to be innovative, not to be afraid of the future, talking about solutions and not only criticizing on everything going and gone wrong.
Okay, for not getting into politics or conquering this thread this has been a quite long foray ?. So, long story short, I can't see the Brexit becoming a success and I'm afraid there will be loosers on both sides ☹. I like the UK for holidays and as business partner (many are prepared to move - partly or complete - if Brexit turns out to be a disadvantage) and I somehow feel like loosin' a "brother" in the European family - with all the differences in culture and the common history, there's always been a deeper connection in-between.
We'll see and hope for the best ?