You're correct, it does sound like a condition similar to tq management, but how do you believe the ecm enacts tq management?
To the op, how recent has this been happening? Last week or two, or last month or two? As in possibly since the weather has probably become very hot and humid July, August, Sept. weather?
Could be as simple as that, a leak in the charge air or exhaust piping, melted/damaged turbine wheel, cam lobes wiping off, etc. If it's reaching the same rpm at the line as before, I doubt it's a converter issue.