Taking as suggestion the comment #15 in bug 567476. I found few packages that specifies :0.9.8 sci-electronics/eagle app-text/acroread app-emulation/vmware-workstation
depending on the old version isn't generally a bug by itself, nor will we be dropping the 0.9.8 slot any time soon. it exists specifically for binary-only packages like the ones you flagged.
Well, three years down the road, we can safely drop 0.9.8. The software which is still using it is no longer supported probably, vulnerable and should not be used.