The publications, for instance, mentioned it is not known when Eve was created, and it may have been years after Adam was created, and the date when the first sin occurred is also not known. So the implication was, as far as I can see, that the end was unknown, and most likely NOT come in 1975. Although, one WT publication SPECULATED, that it MAY not be far off from 1975. However, a lot of stress was put on Jesus words "that no man knows the hour", although the sign of the times indicated it was near. The WT never stated the end WILL come in 1975, not even the book used to introduce potential new Christians to bhe basic bible truth mention it.
Yes, they hedged their bets quite nicely by putting cautionary statements such as you describe into the literature. On the other hand, other statements were much more telling:
Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end.
Kingdom Ministry, May 1974, p. 3
Fifteen years from 1960 brings us to 1975. He predicted that by 1975 this world would be too dangerous! Interestingly, this date is also the one indicated by the most reliable Bible research as marking the end of 6,000 years of rebellion of men and demons against God.
Awake! January 8, 1968, p. 19
If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the 'last days' in 1914, Jesus foretold: 'This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers.
Awake! magazine, May 22, 1969, p. 15
Telling people that the time is so short (in 1974) that selling their homes and property is a "fine way to spend the short time remaining" doesn't strike me as a very cautionary statement. Do you think they meant to imply that people's homes and property should bring them enough income to last them another 38 years (or more)? There were serious consequences to anyone who followed the Watchtower's advice, based on a prediction that you claim they never made.
Likewise, young people were told in 1969 (the year I graduated high school) that they would "never grow old in this present system of things" and that they would "never fulfill any career that this syetem offers." These statements were blatantly false. That magazine came out weeks before my high school graduation, and I am now 61 years old. I think I could have had a decent career by now, had I not paid attention to the Watchtower's advice. Instead of going to college, I aimed at pioneering, and have, as a result, worked much harder at jobs I've enjoyed much less than could have been the case. Another life messed up by believing the Watchtower.
Over 40 years later, the Watchtower is still telling young people the same things. Fortunately, it seems that nowadays, fewer and fewer are believing them, since the majority of JW kids today leave the religion as adults.