@TIG Thank you for your input. My understanding of the C SDK is:
SUModelSaveToFileWithVersion(model, "SU2021.skp", SUModelVersion_SU2021); - Should save into the "versionless" 2021 format and it should load without any error or warning into SU 2022 and SU 2023
SUModelSaveToFileWithVersion(model, "SUcurrent.skp", SUModelVersion_Current); - should save in the version of the SDK (in this case 2024)
But instead both function calls save in SU 2024 format which IMO is an error in the SDK.
I'll try to contact them to sort this.