Improved exception handling

Along with a better model for handling exceptions with friendlier messages, this release brings the CI test runners up to speed with PHP 8.4's changes, while still maintaining compatibility back to PHP 8.1.

What's Changed

• feature: better exception models by @g105b in #369
• Ci 2025 by @g105b in #371

Full Changelog: v1.6.1...v1.6.2