lib: Consolidate checks for read-only database.

Previously, many checks were deep in the library just before a cast
operation. These have now been replaced with internal errors and new
checks have instead been added at the beginning of all top-levelentry
points requiring a read-write database.

The new checks now also use a single function for checking and
printing the error message. This will give us a convenient location to
extend the check, (such as based on database version as well).