OCSP always seemed a bit absurd to me: Instead of sending a OCSP stamp, the CA could also issue a very short lived certificate on demand. It would have the same effect of asserting that the CA currently considers the server to be verified and it doesn't need a separate format.
You can imagine the DDOS-ransomers licking their lips at this possibility.
No, "fail open" has always been the only possible way to implement this. Which is why it's a broken idea from the start.