Then write the prof and ask them to un-restrict you. It takes us 3 seconds to do that. Stop giving up so fast. Get the heck off Reddit and start cranking out an email to professor.
I fully plan to contact either the professor or some administrator (not sure who else I should try and contact) about this in the morning. I haven't completely given up yet.
I am extremely frustrated that something like this was allowed to occur, however. Especially considering that I DID seek clarification BEFORE the deadline and was provided with conflicting deadlines.