I think this is conflating conservatism as a political position and conservatism as an anti-development position. Conservatism as a political position has very little to do with actual developmental changes and way more to do with retaining existing political hierarchies. If a new tool came into existence to enforce a existing caste systems (race, class, whatever) then political conservatism would be for this tool.
Consider reading Rabbit Test by Samantha Mills as a great display of this difference in the context of reproductive rights[0].
It can be progressive towards any amount of things, good or bad. But conservatism requires not developing it.