So, if something doesn't work out with one of them, it's like missing the bus.

That's not a friend, that's just a business acquaintance or a workout buddy, they're not someone I'm going in the trenches for.

So, making a mortgage payment and a reasonable car payment might work out fine.

To many unknowns, and often does not work out well for the investor.  

Once you have them served and file the papers with the court, the court will assign a First Tier Hearing - basically a mediation session where hopefully you are able to work out a move out date certain (with the tenant paying use and occupancy).

Because typically when I put a house up for sale, I will get a call from an agent that has (allegedly) a buyer, and they ask "are you willing to pay me 3% (or 2.5%)" and i usually work out something that works for both parties.But I wonder...is the buyer now responsible for paying their agent?

If I need any of them to do anything extra for me, I just work out a payment for that one thing and pay them by action.

Use this experience to work out the kinks and build a strong boots on the ground team.

As long as you treat things with a level of fairness it will work out. 

Mostly, they are withdrawn by the lender (I can explain why); second there is a postponement for workout efforts, third they is an actual workout plan agreed, fourth, a bankruptcy filing.