Leonardo da Vinci, who I'm told knew a thing or two, once said, "It is easier to resist at the beginning than at the end."

It's probably one of many reasons why so many of my broker friends had such a miserable time last weekend: This past Monday, of course, was the deadline for would-be enrollees to sign up for insurance effective Jan. 1. So, naturally, most of them waited until this weekend to start asking for help — much to the white-knuckled frustration of brokers across the country.

They vented on social media — including more than a few pictures documenting wait times on the HealthCare.gov hotline — although it looked like it was more of a lukewarm line at best. A few even texted me, raging against the machine, the gears and the soylent green it kicked out.