All this and the looking I've done keeps leading me back to the same place, especially when key off/on seems to resolve it for a little bit. The transaxle's pressure control solenoid. Reading this problem description in other places, seeing the solenoid is a chronic problem. It just makes too much math!
At the same time, the problem wouldn't seem to be related to the trans, because the chugging/surging you would think it would be more to do with air/fuel flow or related. But I'm starting to think otherwise.
Anyone throwing Code P1811 too?