release: create branch for v0.18.4-beta.rc1

[guggero]

Preparation PR to kick off the v0.18.4-beta.rc1 release.

Closes #9173.

This PR includes rebased versions of the following PRs (in order):

• #8996
• #8520
• #9007
• #9025
• #9030
• #9044
• #9049
• #8981
• #9072
• #9095
• #9134
• #8960
• #9154
• #9187
• #9059

PRs not yet included but required for v0.18.4-beta (even RC1):

• https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9194
• https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9074 (once merged and re-opened against master)

NOTE: Replaces https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9174 to have branch in upstream repo.

[github-actions[bot]]

Pull reviewers stats

Stats of the last 30 days for lnd:

	User	Total reviews	Time to review	Total comments
	guggero 🥇	8 ▀▀	3h 5m	4
	Roasbeef 🥈	6 ▀	2d 2h 11m ▀	17 ▀▀
	bhandras 🥉	5 ▀	35m	1
	yyforyongyu	5 ▀	1d 9h 39m	12 ▀
	ziggie1984	5 ▀	1d 17h 31m ▀	22 ▀▀
	ProofOfKeags	3 ▀	23h 7m	18 ▀▀
	ellemouton	3 ▀	6d 14h 57m ▀▀	8 ▀
	bitromortac	3 ▀	12h 4m	0
	saubyk	2	7d 19h 17m ▀▀▀	4
	dstadulis	1	6d 3h 54m ▀▀	0
	GeorgeTsagk	1	2h 19m	0
	calvinrzachman	1	2d 2h 39m ▀	6 ▀
	carlaKC	1	1h 27m	0

[guggero]

Added https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9187.

[guggero]

Added https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9059.

[guggero]

Added #9195.

[guggero]

Added #9197.

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[guggero]

Added #9199.

[guggero]

Added #9223.

[Roasbeef]

We'll need this PR in this branch as well: https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9062

[guggero]

Added #9062 and updated its milestone to 0.18.4.

[guggero]

Added #9084 and #9082.

[Roasbeef]

Pushed up a version of this w/ the HTLC PR to my fork (temp): https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/compare/0-18-4-branch-rc1...Roasbeef:lnd:0-18-4-branch-rc1?expand=1

[guggero]

Added #9194. Ready for full review now!

[Roasbeef]

Added https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9272

[guggero]

Added #9272

Force pushed the fixed version of #9272.

[Roasbeef]

We'll also want to pull this one in: https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9253. \

[guggero]

Added #9253.

[guggero]

We'll also want https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9288, but can add that after the RC lands if necessary.

[guggero]

Added #9288.