downgrade is working fine.. Just tested a rb333, upgraded to rc7, downgraded to rc6, then back to rc7 again.
Upload .npk files for previous version you would like to downgrade to then run /system package downgrade or in winbox you can click system -> packages then click on the downgrade button.
Also make sure that you didn't upload the files into one of the hotspot directories/folders. The files will need to be in the root. Also check the log it should tell you why the downgrade didn't work.
you always can try to reinstall routeboard using netinstall tool
edit:
i do not know any such cases when bad version of routeros have damaged routerboard hardware and in testing pre-release version i always have used netinstall if something went wrong.