Wow, sorry about taking so long to reply ^.^;; I didn't mean to drop off the planet there..but I've been preoccupied with my new crested gecko and learning all about their care and such. Kinda too late to really offer any advice on the hibernation I'm thinking, but my tiger has never hibernated. He's always been active in the winter time and shows no real decrease in appetite either. But then I don't have a real change in temperature here in the basement either. I stays pretty level, perhaps getting a bit cooler in the winter but not much since the basement is cooler all year around. But I guess it is possible that the slight cooler temps might cause her to hide more and possibly stimulate hibernation behavior. I actually was talking with another tiger owner a few weeks ago or so that was having a similar situation. Her tiger was showing decreased activity and possible hibernation.
Also since I'm living here in Canada, I'm not familiar with the climate where you are so I couldn't tell you if hibernating around October is early or not, here where I am it would depend on the temps. Sometimes October here can be really cold and have snow on the ground so it wouldn't necessarily be too early here.
As for your non morph, perhaps you are right on that, it may decide not to morph. Or it will overwinter in its larval state and decide to morph in the springtime. In any case I heard that a neotenic tiger larva can morph at anytime, I think even after spending years in the larval state, unlike the axolotls so it may surprise you one day and morph on you.
I guess let me know how your little ones are doing, I wouldn't mind hearing an update on how things are now that its December lol. I'll be sure to keep an eye on the forums instead of disappearing for months ^.^;;