Once https://github.com/elastic/elasticsearch/issues/98503 is done, we can use the new mappings version number in the prior system index descriptor mechanism, rather than the minimum node version. "Prior system index descriptors" are an underused feature that allow a descriptor to retrieve an earlier version of its mappings or settings when creating a system index in a mixed cluster.
Once https://github.com/elastic/elasticsearch/issues/98503 is done, we can use the new mappings version number in the prior system index descriptor mechanism, rather than the minimum node version. "Prior system index descriptors" are an underused feature that allow a descriptor to retrieve an earlier version of its mappings or settings when creating a system index in a mixed cluster.