Why not? Many jazz guitarists use thicker gauge strings that start with 11. I heard someone once say that Stevie Ray Vaughn went as far as 13 gauge. I knew he always tuned a half step down. But, having never played any of his guitars I don't know how true that was.

For me, if I go above 9, it changes my playing style. Bending becomes more difficult and causing other techniques to be employed to compsensate.

If it is volume you are after, why not adjust the magnets on your pickups to accentuate which strings you wnat to have more presence with?