Another thing you might want to investigate (for Linux, not sure about cross-platform alternatives) is OverlayFS[1], which allows you to create union filesystems where some layers are read-only and the top layer is read-write. This can allow destructive operations like rm without actually removing anything from the lower (read-only) layers, using whiteouts.
I'd have replied to this on lobste.rs but don't have an account. I'm not a heavy poster but I'd love an invite if anyone has one going :)
I need your email for an invitation; if you can send me your address via my own email (see my profile), or via keybase, I'll send you an invite. I don't see your email advertised in your profile here on HN, so my hands are tied for now :)
I'd have replied to this on lobste.rs but don't have an account. I'm not a heavy poster but I'd love an invite if anyone has one going :)
1 - https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/filesystems/overlay...