Hilton HHonors - Any luck booking on hotels.com?

Newly minted Diamond and would like to book using hotels.com and paying the same rate as I find on the hilton.com site (ie, this isn't an opaque rate). Recognize that I won't earn points/miles on the stay, but will I get recognised as a Diam? I don't yet have my HHonors card, so can't flash at check in. Thanks.

As long as you can get your HHonors number associated with your reservation BEFORE you arrive, you should be eligible for your Diamond possible upgrade. If you wait until you show up at the hotel to give your HHonors number, it may be tough to get an upgrade (rooms may already be pre-blocked and nothing better is available). Other than the upgrade, you should get all the Diamond amenities due you at the particular brand you stay at regardless of when you give them your HH number. And, yes, you may not get your points/stay credit with the 3rd party booking.

If it's the same rate Hilton.com, why not just book on Hilton's website? Then you get all bennies and points.

The advantage of hotels.com is that they give a 10% discount (well, after 10 nights, they give you a coupon valid for 10% of the total $ spent on the hotel nights) -- that's worth more to me than the points.