gdebi 0.9.5.3ubuntu2 still cannot downgrade packages. Only the underlying library was fixed, and even that fix has not shown up as of python-apt 0.9.3.5ubuntu2.
Please reopen. I have verified that the fix in the ticket works (once it's enabled with a gdebi option). This is a blocker, unless someone can explain how to force a fixed apt version configuration, given lack of preservation of older versions in Ubuntu package archives, without hosting a complete, permanent mirror.