Not really sure what "right circumstances" you are looking for...if these aren't optimal for TT then I'm a fish...damnit already that

You are doubling up this hand wether you raise or not...highly unlikely you get 3 bet by someone who isn't going to try and cbet and is content with just check folding.

Pot is gunna be same size...you are probably (should make a cbet) and stax go in OTT when you bink your set.

This PAHWM hurt my head...I think I'm just gunna go reread one of Venices PAHWM that contains stimulating logic and discusion.

FWIW, I agree with you that the great thing about poker is that you can take infinite amount of lines while playing your hand, but sometimes some lines are more optimal than others...

I'd rather limp with the AA...at least you're probably still best on the flop. W/ the tens, almost any flop is going to suck for you, especially if you're against more than one person.

Also, if everyone is folding to your raises you need to be raising more often. Even adding one SC raise for every 3 big card/pp raise. Increase the percentage of bluff raises (and maybe decrease the amount if necessary) until you hit the point where you can get 1-2 calls (usually this is done as much through intuition about the table than 100% trial and error). There is always a point where you're raising too much that the table will no longer 'take it.' You don't necessarily need to go that far, but just enough to make them suspicious.

This will also help you post-flop because when you raise w/9T and find a 8 J Q flop, no one will suspect you for a monster, or if you hit a draw they're more likely to be wondering whether you have top pair or an overpair. Or if they decide you're a maniac, they'll call you down w/ 2nd pair to your overpair.

Yes I think that is a distinct possibility. In any case, my point is that by raising TT preflop when you are first to act, you give yourself options that you simply don't have when you open limp. Plus, if you are obviously raising a wider range than Villain wouldn't know that you have anything.

What else are you going to have on this flop other than a weak pair? You probably would have raised JJ preflop, and you can't have 22. J8 is unlikely, and many players loose passive enough to be limping with T9o wouldn't be betting it on the flop. So maybe you have T9s or 88, but most likely it is a pocket pair or something like Jx, 8x that is betting to "see where he is at." If he just calls, maybe you improve to two pair or trips on the turn and bet again. Maybe you figure that a call from Villain #1 means you are ahead and bet again on the turn. Since there is a 0 chance that you would continue if raised, some possibility that you would bet again if he calls, and little chance that you will improve to a better hand, there is no incentive for him to raise you.