Did a focus group for $125, then took the car to transmission shop for an estimate. Small town, local mechanic who knows you and your cousins for the win -- nothing wrong with the transmission, and he said so, wouldn't take anything for his time. Troubleshooting on the hesitation continues, but it isn't fuel filter or pump (replaced both already) and it probably isn't the mass air flow sensor (cleaned it).
But this probably means no "new" car for a while, so happy news there.