word or phrase describing preference for reversable actions

Solution 1:

I think pussyfooting strongly carries the sense that a tentative step can swiftly be withdrawn, not just the softly-softly imagery.

Pussyfoot, which means a delicate, soft step comes from the imagery of a cat’s careful tread. To pussyfoot is to proceed with caution, subtlety, and delicacy and is used pejoratively. The term is American in origin and, in adjectival form, dates to at least 1893.

[WordOrigins.co]

There is, sadly, a cautionary caveat: As Brian Donovan points out in a comment (though I'd missed this completely), the term, even though it originated in the States, might raise a few eyebrows in the US because of the non-cute–feline associations of 'pussy' there.

Tentative itself goes further than 'using great caution', with the nuances of a controlled, experimental, small-scale dry run. Not overly committed.

tentative [adjective]

of the nature of or made or done as a trial, experiment, or attempt; experimental:

• a tentative report on her findings.

unsure; uncertain; not definite or positive; hesitant:

• a tentative smile on his face.

[Dictionary.com]

tentative: unconfirmed, provisional, ..., test

[Collins]

Testing the waters (see FumbleFingers' comment above) and putting out feelers are metaphors in the same semantic area.