Yeah I agree totally. If there was a way to enable the OEM Unlocking option from a shell environment, you would likely have total control of the device via fastboot protocol. Like you, I concur that there has to be a way. You have me perplexed enough to dig in and help find an answer. I have a working device and a bricked device, so I am free to experiment around on my brick using QFIL/QPST. I am impressed that you have been able to access fastboot. This is more progress than most people make, so congrats there. Nice work.
By the way
@KtownJeff, if you need any partition dumps from my device, for example, /sbl1, /aboot, /rpm, /tz, etc., just let me know. Just a thought, but if you could push my /persist partition image to your device (my OEM Unlocking is enabled), I think your OEM Unlocking would tick enabled. I recall a Moto device where OEM Unlocking was enabled in a similar manner.
@KtownJeff, if possible, please share a download link of the official firmware package to which you referred. I will be glad to share my self compiled firmware package and stock ROM. Thank you friend.