> I’d call that a pragmatic approach, not a conservative one.

The other meaning of "conservative", the one that's opposite "reckless".

It should in theory be possible to take a conservative approach to being progressive.

"It should in theory be possible to take a conservative approach to being progressive"

That's likely how most of the middle see themselves (if not in those words) - open to new changes but only if they're fully understood and not drastic.