You're right, but while the Republicans do have the upper hand, I expect the Senate Democrats have some parliamentary tricks up their sleeves as well.
However, the Republicans' real problem is how do they replace Obamacare with something that will actually work without violating their core principles. Sure there are Republicans in solid read districts and states who would simply repeal the Affordable Care Act without replacing it and let the chips fall where they may. Their constitutes are too stupid to realize that such a move would would be extremely bad economically for their district or state. (Example: Here in Alabama the Republican governor refused to expand Medicaid even though reliable studies showed that the expansion would be worth $1 Billion dollars in economic benefits for the Alabama.)
However, some Republican Representatives and more than just a few Republican Senators don't have that luxury. They know that not only do they will they have have to replace Obamacare if they repeal it, but also that they will be held personally responsible by their voters for how well the replacement plan works.
As for the pressure they will feel to do something quickly, I think that they will address that by repealing Obamacare in the coming session, but in the process postpone the repeal in the legislation for two, three or even four years. That will get their most zealous constitutes off of their backs while they figure out how to replace the program. (That will give Us an opportunity to retake the Senate, not that our chances are good in 2020.)
If they decide that they won't ever be able to figure out a suitable replacement pan, the other alternative is to not take any special measures and allow the Senate Democratic to kill the repeal bill. Then they can say that they tried, but the evil Democrats stopped them.
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