Not to squash all hope but I think you have your answer.
I am a F-14 RIO and the only guys getting pilot transition are the ones who are currently FOs (that is why 30 year olds are in training now). The reality is that the the S-3/ES-3's going. The F-14 is about to go (2008). All the pilot retreads are from these communities or NFOs doing their transition and the as the previous posted stated, the Navy needs NFOs, so they are making an exception to let you do that. 31 is the hard age requirement for any officer accession program (and the actual one is 27 by June the year of commisioning..31 is for prior service) So the Navy is already waiving you to the max.
Is there a good old boy network that might get you a different answer? Probably, but it doesn't sound like you have any inside tracks, unfortuntately.
I'd take NFO, riding around in the back of a super hornet, dropping bombings and firing AMRAM's does not suck. And oh, by the way, there is active duty pay, medical etc and RETIREMENT. there are a lot of poeple out there who will never get the chance to do a joint air wing strike into Bagdad, so who cares if you were the stick monkey or the guy lasing the bombs (NFO).
I am not saying NFO is the end all be all, but I have enjoyed it and I fly civilian for fun outside of work. So if that is all they will give you, it is better than nothin!