'Why can't older versions of React Native use React version 18 when the upgrade guide suggests it can run as if it were version 17?

I understand Expo only supports React 17.x, but this bit of the React 18 Upgrade Guide makes that somewhat surprising to me. Why can't React Native use React 18.x if React 18.x is capable of running as if it's React 17.x?

ReactDOM.render is no longer supported in React 18. Use createRoot instead. Until you switch to the new API, your app will behave as if it’s running React 17.

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