Why do all OCS requirements listed in every publication say applicant must have less than 10 years AFS before commissioning to be qualified?

Check AR 350-51 and any updated MILPER Messages; and your career counselor for that lates and greatest information. The rule of thumb is no more than 9 years but DA might tinker every now and then with requirements based on needs.

Remember; in the Army nothing is as simple as it seems. Regulations are treated as guidelines only and arbitrarily changing timelines are common. Regulations state 10 years and HRD stipulates six years, so recruiters follow the HRD timeline and, not Regulations. I suggest requesting a waiver of the six-year requirement along with your application packet SGT Shane Adair. It is not guaranteed to be approved.

Most requirements are waiverable- you might want to check with a recruiter.

You may want to check out a Reserve or National Guard Commission, via a Direct or OCS Route. I believe that you may be able to get a Direct Commission if you have a Bachelor's Degree. I went the
OCS route, but in my Basic Officer Course- we had two lieutenants that were directly Commissioned.

Once you are in a Reserve Officer Billet, you could always put in a packet to "Call to Active Duty" to go Regular Army if you really wanted to.