Can anyone explain why they started downgrading to an already old and officially unsupported version of PHP 7.4?
Who needs the old version, there is OpenCart 3.x.x
And it makes sense to develop version 4.x.x for current versions of PHP, I mean 8.x.x

Can anyone explain why they started downgrading to an already old and officially unsupported version of PHP 7.4? Who needs the old version, there is OpenCart 3.x.x And it makes sense to develop version 4.x.x for current versions of PHP, I mean 8.x.x

I agree. But unfortunately there are still too many webhosts and OpenCart users using PHP 7.4.

I agree. But unfortunately there are still too many webhosts and OpenCart users using PHP 7.4.

Old hosting sites mostly use Opencart 3.
At least users always have a choice: either old versions of PHP + OpenCart 3, or OpenCart 4 and PHP 8+

Imho, it would have more sense to release oc2 and oc3 updates with PHP 8.2 support :)

PHP 5.x/7.x are dead.

Imho, it would have more sense to release oc2 and oc3 updates with PHP 8.2 support :)

PHP 5.x/7.x are dead.

There already is an OpenCart 3.0.3.9 with full support for PHP 7.4, 8.0, 8.1 and 8.2.

There already is an OpenCart 3.0.3.9 with full support for PHP 7.4, 8.0, 8.1 and 8.2.

I know. I was using Maintenance branch for about 2 years. It should be released long time ago.

because more people setting up stores using the older version.