Yes they make 11-36 9 speed cassettes. Sunrace even makes an 11-40 9 speed cassette for $46 shipped from Amazon. The only real upgrade you get by going to 10 speed is the clutch RD. If you are going to bother upgrading you might as well skip over 10 speed all together and go to 11. There really isn't a price difference.

Not a lot of new options for 26er straight steerer forks out there anymore either.