any advance on that? who can top that? who can do better? who can raise the stakes?

better than nothing

to do as best one can given the circumstances

to do as best one can, to do one's best, to do one's utmost, to give it one's best shot

(figuratively, in good part) to take a run-up so as to jump farther, to make a strategic retreat, to make a strategic withdrawal so as to come back stronger / (figuratively, in bad part) to delay the inevitable, to put off the evil day

better late than never

two heads are better than one

prevention is better than cure, better safe than sorry

better safe than sorry; a belt-and-braces/belt-and-suspenders approach always wins the day

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, better an egg today than a hen tomorrow