The only actions in office that aren’t safe are actions which are, by definition, dangerous or have some kind of risk of consequences.
Biden didn’t risk anything by setting up student loan forgiveness to be struck down. That doesn’t actually hurt him politically at all, and in fact, strengthens his political case against the Republican party! What actual risk or danger did he face by getting challenged in the Court? The worst thing they could do is say “No” - that’s nothing! He played it safe and he always does.
I don’t think he made the “wrong” choice, by the way. The only other choices he could have made would have resulted in actual political or public backlash onto him or the party or the government and its institutions. He chose the safe path. It makes perfect sense.