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You can save without issues LAS 1.2 if the current cloud is 1.2 .las

BUT, if the oppened file is 1.4 , despite you may choose the .las filter that is not 1.3/1.4 when saving, it will still be saving as 1.4 . I even cleared the SF just in case any specific SF was forcing a higher format version.

I believe PDAL is responsible for this choice? Not sure though...

May be there is a way to enforce I remember lastools did have a version major and version minor parameters, yet I don´t know if lastools relies on PDAL.

Nope, they are totally independent libraries.