Thank you, Jun Zhang, for your reply!
Let me ask one more question to see if I understand you correctly:
Is it correct that when the data sheet refers to "slave mode", this is the same as "system oscillator bypass" mentioned in the user manual (for example UM11029 chapter 8.6.4)?
If this is the case, then is it correct to say that the voltage limit of 1.8V applies whenever the XTALIN function is enabled in the PINENABLE register, and is independent from the setting in the SYSOSCCTRL register?
Thanks for any clarification you can provide!