Can the RDS be different in different direction in a multi-step reversible reaction?
After discussion with OP in chat, the issue in logic can be rectified as follows. Simply put:

$\ce{A&lt;=&gt;B&lt;=&gt;[slow]C &lt;=&gt; D}$ doesn't imply that $\ce{B &lt;=&gt; C}$ is the RDS in both $\ce{A -&gt; D}$ and $\ce{D -&gt; A}$.

Rather than this, we need to consider $\ce{A-&gt;D}$ and $\ce{D-&gt; A}$ as two separate reactions. Doing so for the two reactions given in the question (acid catalysed hydrolysis ($\ce{A -&gt;D}$) and  esterification ($\ce{D -&gt; A}$)), we see the mechanisms are as follows:
Acid catalyzed hydrolysis

Here the RDS is the formation of the carbocation $\ce{^+CMe3}$.
Esterification of an acid and a bulky alcohol

Here the RDS is the formation of carbocation but it happens at a different step and not the same step.
Therefore the two reactions have different RDS steps as they are different reactions