distutils was removed in Python 3.12. The only reason EasyBuild uses
StrictVersion is that it orders beta/rc versions before the released
version, unlike LooseVersion. E.g. 5.0.0-beta < 5.0.0 (but > for
LooseVersion).

So a new method
`is_earlier_or_prerelease(self, other, markers)`
was added to LooseVersion to handle that particular case.

Addresses part of easybuilders#3963

In the end this is clearer because we also need to test against a
maximum version (but it is allowed to be a prerelease of that
maximum version, as per StrictVersion semantics!)

Flip order of `is_prerelease` and version check for clarity.

Co-authored-by: Kenneth Hoste <kenneth.hoste@ugent.be>