Without the McVain mutiny, the GOP judges would have been voted on and confirmed (or not, in the case of those which had some Republican opposition) - and the Democrats would have decided whether they wanted to force the Republicans to break the filibuster on a party-line vote.The Democrats don't actually know if they will ever get the majority back, at least in the tenure of the present incumbents. After all, the Republicans were in the wilderness for a very long time, and they could also have that experience. So if anyone knows that they need the filibuster, it's the Democrats - and what do the RINOs do but fold like a cheap camera!
I see you are under the naive impression that the only thing the Dims can do to delay is to filibuster. I promise you without the deal those judges would in fact not be confirmed as we type.