I'm not against the idea of a 10-game conference schedule per se, but it is complicated when you have 16 teams, whether split into two divisions or four subdivisions.
So, with four subdivisions (pods), you play your 3 podmates, then you have to distribute 7 more games over the other three pods.
Or, with two 8-team divisions, you play 7 divisional games and then 3 of the 8 teams in the other division.
It's also not clean if you go to permanent interdivisional rivalries if you are in two divisions. You'd play 7 divisional games, your permanent rival in the other division, and then distribute 2 games over the 7 remaining teams in the other division.
3 doesn't go into 8 evenly and neither does 2 go into 7. So it takes a long cycle before you've played the 7 non-permanent-rivals in the other division the same number of times.
Similar problems with 10 games, pods, and a permanent interpod rival. You play your 3 podmates, your permanent rival, then you spread 6 games over the other 11 schools. 6 does not go evenly into 11. So, again, a long cycle before it all evens out.
The cleanest is 9 games with no permanent rival. 3 pod games, 2 games from each of the other 3 pods. With home-and-home, it takes 4 years and you've played everybody not in your pod twice.
With divisions, 9 games, no permanent rival, you get 7 divisional games, then 2 more games distributed across the 8 schools in the other division. It takes 8 years to complete the cycle, and you've played everyone in the other division twice.