I find this especially annoying because HR insists on having these "Hard Requirements" like years of experience, GPA, or other things. I just want someone who is smart, gets things done, and somewhat likes the thing they are going to be doing.

The hard requirements do seem to be doing quite the disservice to the job search experience...

As someone who's applying to software developer jobs now (chemist who self-taught), it is quite frustrating as I know many of my applications are thrown out due to HR ignorance whereas if I were able to contact someone internal, there would be traction.

All the more reason to message people directly :)

Indeed, though now I am thinking that messaging people directly can be construed as "breaking the rules", which may somehow or probably is related to women not applying for jobs.