CheleK, you stated that prior to the Goenka retreat that you were "aware of the vibrations – as energy - but the fundamental nature of them had not hit me."
That's how I was until yesterday... something in the way that people were describing these "vibrations" - it finally makes sense to me! This is really significant to me in my Qigong practice, too. I've always been able to feel/see the vibrations such as what "triplethink" described as that energy (aka: qi) between the hands, etc., but I wasn't making any progress in detecting the subtleties of the energy. Furthermore, sensations such as pain - I move into it, and have an understanding of it being just sensory perception (I've had surgery without anesthesia, just meditated through it), but I never looked at pain as being a "vibration." Now I'm amazed that I never saw it that way before. Feeling kinda silly about that.
Last night in my dreams I noticed the vibrations... today everything that I do, I'm now aware - not just conceptually, but really aware... vibrations... various textures, speed, etc.
Sorry people that I'm rambling here, but I'm really feeling good about finally getting it!
I feel that this awareness is due to the combination of me intensifying practice in concentration with methods I've learned here, as well as the dialogue in this thread.

Thank you!