Max M, from reading your post, it suggests to me that you bought a ticket through Hotwire and got a TWA routing, but I know that isn't the case since Hotwire doesn't use TWA. So could you please clarify the point you were trying to make? Who says TWA offers the lowest fare on your route/dates? Have you checked every airline website that flies the route as well as Lowestfare and Cheaptickets?

As to Hotwire being too Pricelineish, well, that's exactly what they are, a direct competitor. Had you assumed otherwise?