You can dump information about a file from the CLI like this:

Spine -i path/to/your/file.spine

However, newer versions of Spine can always open old versions, so I would suggest you just use the latest 4.0 version. The beta is basically over, we'll release it as non-beta soon.

madmuffin a écrit

- None of the new examples install or exist on my PC anywhere. Attempting to load them errors out.

The examples are downloaded automatically in 4.0. This reduces the size of the Spine installer, which would nearly double in size if we included the examples, and allows us to add more examples without bloating the installer.

For 3.8 you can download examples here:
Spine: Example Projects

madmuffin a écrit

- In Edit Mesh Modify mode, I can make a selection box to select vertexes with middle-mouse click once, afterwards I can no longer make a selection box until I switch off of Modify and back again.

Oops, I see it too, we'll get it fixed! I guess most of us on the Spine team don't use middle mouse button.

madmuffin a écrit

- In Edit Mesh Modify mode, clicking the selection gizmo to drag vertexes around does nothing. The vertexes refuse to move. I can only move the vertexes by clicking into space, and then the vertexes move in extremely bizarre ways totally unrelated to my mouse movement.

Vertices cannot be moved to invalid locations. Unchecking Deformed can help you to see why you can't move them.

Having them move in strange ways doesn't sound right. Can you please post or email a project file and provide instructions so we can see that firsthand? contact@esotericsoftware.com

madmuffin a écrit

- Sprites brought into the project inherit the selected bone's rotation instead of appearing upright.

This is normal. We could rotate them as you mentioned, but it's arbitrary

if someone want them the other way then it still wouldn't satisfy everyone. You can select the attachment, click World axes, then type 0 for rotation.

I suggest using an export script to go from your image editor to Spine, so you don't have to manually place images:
Images - Spine User Guide: Scripts

madmuffin a écrit

- I can select a Bone, Mesh, and Region at the same time only through the hierarchy, but I can't move both at the same time. Can't move a Region and Mesh at the same time.

This is normal. Different types of attachments cannot be selected at the same time in the viewport.

madmuffin a écrit

- Can't 'De-select' something, left click doesn't select or de-select, it does whatever tool I have selected's behavior (translate, rotate, scale, etc.)

This is normal. That is how Spine works, you can drag in blank space to manipulate the selection. It reduces the amount of precise mouse usage and reduces fatigue in your mousing hand.

You can make a new selection without deselecting by clicking or dragging something else. You can deselect by pressing spacebar, escape, or double clicking anywhere in the viewport.

You might check out the Spine User Guide, it is comprehensive and fully up to date for 4.0:
Spine User Guide