Can you outline the UK red lines and then the EU red lines and why you think the UK ones are a 'horde' and the EU ones reasonable and small in number?
You are right of course in that trade talks usually talk a long time to do, which is why I personally think a year is a ridiculous time by the government. The difference of course being that those are two wholly different markets trying to converge, as opposed to two already convergent markets trying to ascertain how much they're happy to diverge. The status quo, the baseline, is already an agreed upon trade agreement.
I also suspect the EU is more equipped for a no deal Brexit but it would be harmful for both sides. Both the UK and the EU sliding into recession, especially if corona affects the economies of China, Japan, Korea and the USA (all very possible) benefits literally nobody.
I don't think it was a mistake, in the same way it wasn't a mistake for the UK to suggest similar regarding Norway, Canada, Switzerland etc. Their point is not necessarily to copy those agreements word for word but that they feel a trade agreement which is non templated may be a possibility.
Of course, the EU may disagree and in that case, we'll see how things play out.
What I am sure of is that
1) The EU does not want no deal (and I'm sure Boris doesn't either).
2) You fundamentally misunderstand the political climate of the UK currently, whether that is correct or not, if you think it would be politically acceptable for Boris to go 'crawling to the EU for a deal'.
3) A year is a fecking stupid amount of time for this and Boris and the Tories are a bunch of turds.
4) Whatever happens by December 2020 will not be the end of the story.
The EU terms are
a- a level playing field for the EU and the UK in terms of environment, workers rights etc
UK's red lines are
a- the transition period to end by the end of this year
b- the UK to have independence on its borders, its standards, its legislation etc
But that doesn't really matter. What matters is that the UK needs a deal with the EU far more then the EU needs a trade deal with the UK.
a- its a far bigger market
b- its the market which is closest to. No one, not even Trump and the US juggernaut had dared poisoning their neighbour's well as they know that its the market they depend mostly upon
c- The US congress had made it obvious that it will sink any deal made between the US-UK unless the GFA is respected. That can only be done with a trade deal between the UK and the EU.
This gives the EU plenty of clout over the UK. Which means that unlike the UK it can walk out of the negotiation table if it wants do, which, considering the UK's unrealistic demands and the hostile environment they had built throughout the years then, in my opinion, they should. Regarding the deals you mentioned, both Norway and Switzerland, accept ECJ supremacy and the level playing field the EU is insisting the UK to have. Canada on the other hand is far away from the EU market which means that the EU can be more lenient towards it then towards the UK whose literally a spit away from the EU market.
Regarding your comment
1- The EU has made it quite obvious that the integrity of the single market is far more important then all the benefits that a trade deal with the UK will bring
2- The UK is now a third country. The political climate there is as relevant to the EU as the political climate in Kenya, Haiti or the Vatican. What the EU should focus upon its the EU's best interest and that best interest is to safeguard the integrity of the single market. Any deal on top of that would be a bonus.
3- A year is basically peanuts when compared to the time needed to sign a trade deal. Thus its better for the EU to be tough now, leave the negotiating table and let the Brexiteers in their stew up until they return back to their senses. Unlike the previous negotiations, the EU can easily afford that as there's no risk of the UK digging its heels by revoking article 50 only to then cause trouble down the line
4- I think its time for the EU to treat this deal like any other trade deal it engages with ie it can be frozen up for years up until the other party becomes more 'accommodating'. The UK is not the EU concern anymore and we have far more problems to deal with then Brexit.