We'll create fresh WordPress site with Dropwp Disable Products installed. You have 20 minutes to test the plugin after that site we'll be deleted.
Once activated, this plugin will override all product status changes and set them to DRAFT. This way you could have a bulk importer and only publish your products once you have already revised and updated them.
To override this status change, simply add a custom_meta to the product with name ‘dropwp_disableproducts_skip’ and value ‘1’.