I would be using 2.3 on a new install. I am not using it today and the themes are compatible with my current version. I think 2.2.1 but I would have to look.
Since you asked for more detail I will provide it even thought this is not the correct area since it is not really installation. But here we go....
My blog is located here: http://www.husar.us
I have a theme switcher here to test new themes: http://www.husar.us/blog/?page_id=1180
When I installed and tested two magazine themes they are not working as expected. Both themes are created by different developers and work just fine with my current wp version.
The themes in question are 'The Morning After' and 'Mimbo'. Use the theme switcher and look at them. What should be happening is they display different posts at different areas of the layout. Very common for magazine themes. But in both cases of these themes all the different areas display only last few posts to the blog. I have my Reading options to show the last 5. But it is like the category doesn't even register to the themes.
100s of people are using these themes and are not experiencing any thing like I am.
I have not modified the themes or wp at all. These are straight right out of the box and setup as described with the instructions provided.
So this leads me to believe I have a problem with the wp categories.
Any thoughts?