Whoa! I think I have the solution. Does this work for you?
If your server uses mariadb, choose mariadb from the dropdown menu in early stages of the installation process.
Then the installation will no longer stop with the confusing message claiming that you have the wrong version of mysql.
The ideal error message would say that the database you specified does not match the one that is running.
The workaround I posted above -- editing the config.php file -- also works, but it is unnecessary.