Feature: Use old protocol data to try and connect to a snapshot server.

[mk-pmb]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
I'm trying to have my bot join a 25w14craftmine LAN game so I can chat with it.

Error: Unsupported protocol version '1073742068'; try updating your packages with 'npm update'

… but perfect protocol support won't come for a while since it seems blocked on multiple issues in minecraft-data and mineflayer.
However, maybe I don't need perfect protocol support for just chat messages.
So maybe I could have some option to try and act as if 25w14craftmine had the same protocol as 1.21.4? Seems to be worth at least a try.

Even if it turns out chat messages have diverged too much and it may not solve this exact scenario, that option could be useful for future snapshots.

Describe the solution you'd like
An option to use an older protocol even if it seems incompatible.
Lie to the server if needed.

Describe alternatives you've considered

Additional context

[extremeheat]

If the protocol versions are compatible, the connect should work as is. If not, you need to update the relevant data to add this support via the standard update process. If you have an implementation proposal you need to provide it, otherwise it's not clear what technical changes you are asking for.

[mk-pmb]

They probably aren't compatible. At least not fully. I had hoped that there may be a middle ground between the boolean compatibility values. To acknowledge the incompatibility but try anyway in hopes that there is partial compatibility in the parts relevant to my bot.
With some internet protocols and some human languages, speaking them badly can be enough for some basic interactions.
Is the Minecraft protocol situation so totally different that the idea of partial compatibility doesn't make sense here?