David:
I'm not sure I understand your point about Canvas and Blackboard. Moodle 1.9 and 2.x both do these things.
There are new vistas possible with Moodle 2.x. I'm actually happy with the decision not to use precious programming time to code to import new stuff (by stripping out all the goodies) into an old system (not supported). In other words, support legacy system or develop the new systems: what gives the best result? Given we now have had 2.5 years warning.
There are a score of good providers who can provide you with a reasonable Moodle 2.x level system.
Frankly, having tasted 2.4, I've found it hard to go back. The poor end user, staff and student!! Stuck with 1.9!! So the IT department has hacked an added on and improved 1.9!! Take some of this talent and apply it to an upgrade or a migration.
As to uour problem, you can develop in 1.9 and restore into 2.1 ??
Probably though, as two other posters have suggested, there will be no-one out there programming to import 2.x into 1.9 courses.
Sorry. Just thinking of other options.
-Derek