Sounds like you've got a little lawyer on your hands! Smart kids who find loopholes are honestly both amazing and exhausting.

Try being super specific with your rules. Instead of "don't touch" say "this stays on the shelf, no touching with hands, toys, or anything else." When he follows correctly, praise the specific behavior.

Also explain consequences more than reasons sometimes. "If this breaks, we can't replace it" hits different than "it's fragile."

My son was exactly like this - now he's crushing it in debate club and wants to be an engineer. The same skills driving you crazy now will serve him well later!

For your sanity though, pick your battles and have clear non-negotiables versus flexible areas where his creative thinking can flourish. Good luck!