Max 2011 is the first version of Max to allow you to save out a copy of the file in the 2010 format. IIRC. Max dosnt have the Maya ignore file version. There is no way to open the 2011 file in 2010. You have to save out from 2011 to 2010.
I have encountered issues opening 2011 files in 2010 even if they are saved out in the 2010 format. The resolution I have found opening files saved that way is to merge from the file. Even then, some meshes didn't come in correctly or made max crash. While it is cool that they implemented this option, I think it is still…