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Interesting issue.  Let's think about it in the context of evolving systems, as per the illustration to the left (click for larger image) ?  Yes, starting points influence where one goes next and evolution is probably irreversible, so you can't go home again.  On the other hand, there are lots of directions to go from any given starting point and lots of different ways to get to any given place.  And its awfully hard to get less wrong if one doesn't have a starting place to get less wrong from.  Maybe a "starting place" is a "commitment" only to an ongoing process of exploration, and so doesn't in principle preclude anything? 

For some additional related thoughts prompted by your concerns,  see Alice.