I don't know why the idea of a "public option" fell out of favor with Democrats. It's a good stop along the way, and doesn't risk completely destroying an industry overnight...and therefore has a much higher chance of passing. Eventually employers would push people onto the public option plan, but it wouldn't be overnight. Bernie's plan, imo has so much room for error, it's not even worth considering without a stop along the way. It's also ironic he wants to ban private insurance completely (I assume that even means supplemental) when pretty much every single country he cites as a model doesn't do that.