I'm another one of the close voters. I saw it as two questions, where the first question was a duplicate, and where the second question would clearly be separate given the answers to the first.

However, I now believe that **we were wrong to close this question.** I believe this for a different reason than you've raised in this meta question. I think this question shouldn't be closed because **you actually have to save two `.deb` files to be able to reinstall Skype**. That's non-obvious information, and it makes this question a notable special case. (And it's not too localized, because thousands of people use Skype; it's unlikely that one person, but only one, prefers the old version.)

Right now, if the OP follows the advice given in comments, the OP will find he **cannot reinstall Skype after a clean install of Ubuntu** (because he won't have `skype-bin`). I see that as a compelling reason to reopen this question.

If we reopen this question, I think it would be best to make sure:

- that we treat it as a separate question, and avoid duplicating the instructions in http://askubuntu.com/questions/18654/how-to-prevent-updating-of-a-specific-package. A specific example of how to pin just the Skype packages might be OK, but let's not make this question more general than it needs to be, if we're reopening it based on its notable specificity.

- that we answer it quickly, so answers don't accumulate in it that ought to be in http://askubuntu.com/questions/18654/how-to-prevent-updating-of-a-specific-package instead.

Here's a possible answer. If we reopen the question, let's post *some* answer soon. To everyone: please feel free to post this answer (or a derivative of it) as community-wiki (unless I have already posted it).

> You want to keep a particular version of the package `skype` for the
> foreseeable future, even when newer versions are available, and even
> if you install Ubuntu again from scratch.
> 
> First, assuming this beta version is packaged the same way as the
> current version, **there are actually [two
> packages](https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/skype)--`skype`, and
> `skype-bin`.**
> 
> There are two things you must do, for each of these packages:
> 
> 1. Pin them at their current versions so they're left alone when you update software. That's been covered in this question:
>     - http://askubuntu.com/questions/18654/how-to-prevent-updating-of-a-specific-package
> 
> 2. Keep copies of the `.deb` package files used to install them. You'll probably find them in `/var/cache/apt/archives`. Their names
> should begin with `skype_2.2.0.35-` and `skype-bin_2.2.0.35-` (and
> both end in `.deb`).
> 
>     Back them up, and if you have to reinstall Ubuntu from scratch or if you want to install this version of Skype on another machine, just
> install those packages. One way to install them is to run this
> command, after `cd`ing to the folder that contains the `.deb` files:
> 
>         sudo dpkg -i skype_2.2.0.35-*.deb skype-bin_2.2.0.35-*.deb
> 
>     If you're told one or both of these packages can't be completely configured because you don't have the necessary dependencies
> installed, make sure you're connected to the Internet and run these
> commands:
> 
>         sudo apt-get -f install
>         sudo dpkg --configure -a
> 
> Finally, please note that if you continue to use an old version of Skype that is no longer supported
> [upstream](http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/home):
> 
> - It may stop working, or stop working properly, over time.
> - It may contain security vulnerabilities fixed in later versions.

I've included this sample answer to demonstrate that this question really can be answered in a way that treats it as a separate, non-duplicate question. **This meta answer** should not become the answer to [**that main question**][1]. If we reopen this question and an answer is posted, I plan to edit it out of this meta answer.

- I will also edit it out if people start using this meta answer as a substitute for answering the question or providing more useful comments on main. I'm not posting this here to circumvent the question's closure, and making people come to meta for information that should be on main is not really beneficial.

For the reasons detailed above--that *Skype is provided by two binary packages even though most of us think of it as a single package, so this is a notable special case with a complicating factor that deserves a specific answer*--I have cast a reopen vote.


  [1]: http://askubuntu.com/q/169470/12864