I’m not sure what the problem is in each case, but a possible solution might be to pin down all versions somehow:
I tend to install a LOT of packages to experiment (like a curious student might do), and maybe that’s my problem (doing something wrong? should use environments?), and if it downgrades (or even upgrades) packages, it can be a problem.
You might want to be aware of the preserve option (that apparently there didn’t work…):
(@v1.6) pkg> add --preserve=all Stipple
Updating registry at `~/.julia/registries/General`
######################################################################## 100,0%
Resolving package versions...
Installed p7zip_jll ─ v16.2.1+1
Downloading artifact: p7zip
No Changes to `~/.julia/environments/v1.6/Project.toml`
Updating `~/.julia/environments/v1.6/Manifest.toml`
[3f19e933] ↑ p7zip_jll v16.2.1+0 ⇒ v16.2.1+1
Without it (and I often forget) I tend to get upgrades, but also downgrades… often to VERY old versions. Sometimes, such as for Stipple, you need some old version (for demos), and sometimes you need the latest or master. It’s usually not a problem (I think!) except for such WIP packages.
Possibly the GR issue you is the defunct problem I had, see here:
https://github.com/jheinen/GR.jl/issues/340#issuecomment-681939343