>> This appears to be simply saying that version numbers are misleading; what is important is not what version number is being used, but what contracts that version number corresponds to.

Indeed, the version number is just an attempt to draw a big circle around a whole set of statements about contractual compliance and give the set a meaningful label. As such they are often wrong, and really don't transmit much in the way of useful information.

I was surprised not to read more in the piece about the role of automated tests as an enforcer of contractual compliance.