Yes, but the other half of that is that Google will require that new uploads to the Google Play Store target newer Android versions. That is, older applications

Yes, but the other half of that is that Google will require that new uploads to the Google Play Store target newer Android versions. That is, older applications will not break, but newer applications (and newer versions of older applications) will not be allowed to use that loophole anymore. (Of course, you can still sideload...)