Black bullets in poker heaven. Should I have listened to HEFAP?

[Huh]

Okay, maybe this is standard, but figured I'd post it.

I have black aces in middle/late position. Online $3-$6 game.

4 callers to me, I raise, and we see the flop eight handed for 2 bets each.

The flop seems innocent enough. It's
T 5 2 rainbow.

It's checked to me, and I bet. The whole table calls.

The turn puts up a Jack. Again it's checked to me, I bet and get two callers, both later than I.

The river is an eight.

I bet and get two callers. The button turns over T8 for the rivered two-pair and drags a pretty decent pot.

My main question about this hand is the flop bet. I've read HEFAP countless times, but sometimes its impossible to practice what I read. So, should I have checked the flop and just called, hoping to confront people with a double turn bet? This sounds like such a good idea in theory, but on a rainbow uncoordinated board like this, I hate giving out a free card and letting people pick up a draw on the turn.


Any other comments on the hand would also be greatly appreciated, but it's the flop that I wonder about most.
-Huh