You can import from different Blender versions

Original post

You want a model made in modern blender but you only want to use 2.79. try importing it!

compared to most apps, blender is actually quite graceful at handling files made a couple of versions before or after itself. I think that's why an early 2.x file can load in even 1.6, either I didn't use the "new features" or what's there actually translated well.

but not only this applies to loading entire files, but also portions of files, because blend files are made up of blocks (when blender can't read one, it'll just move on)

and yes blender 5.0 is gonna fuck it all up, but not without a plan: they made sure 4.5 LTS, as a "stopgap" version, will be able to open these new files, in the same way you need a "stopgap" version when bridging between modern blender and legacy blender.

there's some official information on how the file format will change with 5.0