As per one of my other posts i'm also having trouble with hostess - although in my case it's a bit different as whois is showing my details but with a status of inactive, and a weird message on hostess.
My advice to you would be to ask yourself ARE THESE DOMAINS SOMEONE WILL BE LIKELY TO SNATCH UP IF YOU DELAY? Ie how important are they - find of the decade or just something you have been meaning to get around to?
If it's the find of the decade and likely to be snapped up if you delay, i'd use another registrar, get it done, and then worry about getting your $20.95 back later. If it's not likely to go to someone else if you have to wait a few hours i'd just continue waiting. But it's up to you. If there is no mention of you in Whois I would say they have done nothing at all yet and you are in danger of losing it IF someone else thinks to register that name.
FYI I have submitted two support tickets to Hostess in the last 3 days (mine I tried was on NYE at about 9pm - 5 went through 2 didn't). One support ticked marked Medium priority, no response, followed up with email, no response, sent a second support ticket marked Urgent, no response yet.
They appear to have dropped the ball over Christmas/New Year break!
Matt
http://www.marketingweb.com.au