OK, working example for safely deleting images on the commons:
http://tools.wikimedia.de/~magnus/safe_delete_commons.php?title=Image:THE_IM...
It will * Check the image text for last edit older than 14 days (can be adapted if necessary) * Check the image text for "delete me" templates; list of templates has to be expanded, please tell me which to use
If all that is OK, it will * Copy the image to the toolserver under a randomized name * Give the randomized name for you to copy, so the image can be restored * Generate a button that leads to page deletion (I'm not a commons admin, so someone please check if that's working) * Give a preview of the existing and copied image to check that copying was successful
The deleting admin *has* to copy the new image url line, otherwise the image can never be found again! That way, the image is stored away from public eyes but still restorable through the deleting admin.
Comments, please.
Magnus