My stereo out is clipping even though all channels playing at -10dbfs!

I think there is no general rule to use -10, -18 or any other dBFS value. It depends on the content of the tracks.
If you have a project where each track is close to clipping and all the tracks carry max. signal in the same timeframe, even -18 dBFS could be too little. If you have recorded a hand full of instruments or vocals and the recording is relatively quite, there might not be the need to turn down the pre-gain at all.
Goal of the gain staging is to leave enough headroom on your master bus so you will not clip during mixing.

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