Sending in a resume or filling out an application is pretty low risk. If a company absolutely won't hire you without a degree, you just won't hear back. Big deal.
I would just say, "Degree in CS related area or related experience highly desirable".
I once got a job with zero qualifications for it -- in fact, the interview was almost entirely just me asking the interviewers how to do the job! They had other applicants but I guess my total and complete lack of experience didn't scare them off. The job was initially daunting but otherwise a fantastic experience overall.
I've gotten many jobs and not met all the requirements. If you're good in something they want, but miss something they want, they might hire you.
Especially if you're the best candidate among all the candidates, none of which often have all the requirements.
Not applying certainly takes you out of the pool.
If you're not confident in your fundamentals then you won't apply because you can't tick all the boxes.
If you ARE confident in your fundamentals then you'll apply and probably get the job and the posted 'requirements' won't even factor into it.
Knowing that is the difference between 150 applications, and just 1.
Unfourtuantly, these features are often inversly correlated.
Also, remember that the people who actually decide who to hire are often as frustrated with the process and its artificiality as the applicants.
Last time I was applying for work, I sent out 150 applications/resumes, every single one I look at the list of requirements, if I don't meet one of them, I don't apply because it's a waste of my time.