[magnat]

> the use of that particular version is a strangely shoddy mistake. It should have been very easy to use a version string that exists

Perhaps attackers wanted to discourage user from trying to upgrade firmware/bootloader before first use by using version one step higher than officially released. If they used older version number, savvy user might try to flash newest firmware and discover something isn't quite right. Using nonexistent, but plausible looking version number, can also be used to explain minor discrepancies in behavior between fake and original unit, if some are introduced by mistake.