Greetings.
I'm very new to the noting practice myself, so keep that fact in mind. When people count breaths, there's sometimes a tendency for the counting itself to become the object, along the lines of a mantra. You just have to shift your focus back to the object, and let the counting be very light/gentle/faint. This is the kind of routine adjustment that all of us have to make in practicing meditation, and isn't a big deal at all. The same thing seems to apply to the noting practice. Rather than be concerned that the noting is becoming the focus, just make the adjustment as soon as you notice what has happened--and note what you're doing!
"Initially this was difficult to alternate awareness from one leg to the other and notice the beginning middle and end of each step since almost always my attention drifts off to something, but now it's become easier."
That sounds like progress to me! Great! When you notice some sense of satisfaction with this progress, you might consider just going right back to the practice, "approving, approving" or "pleasant, pleasant"--however you want to note it--and get right back to it.
"In my experience, during any noticed sensation there is either an inclination towards the sensation or an aversion against it."
Yes. And so here, you note the feeling-tone: "pleasant, pleasant" or "unpleasant, unpleasant"--and just keep on noting, uninterruptedly.
"Is it alright if I just kind of be aware of the sensations themselves instead of noting? Is there any advantage or benefit of noting instead?"
You will often hear practitioners describing a situation where their concentration is strong and their ability to notice sensations seems to surpass their ability to note those sensations. Again, I'm a beginner. However, my guess is that it's better to stick to the noting for as long as you can. You are making progress in this very powerful practice. As it was explained to me, you don't have to try too hard to note faster. At a certain point, your mind will speed up and the fast noting will happen in a natural and relaxed way. At that point, you can note "dit" or something very short.
As it was explained to me, there is in fact a very powerful reason to note: it enables you to take a step back from phenomena with which you have identified and to see and experience those phenomena as objects that are marked by the Three Characteristics. When you've noted something, you've stepped back from it and made it into an object of awareness rather than something experienced as being part of the subject.
I hate to be so opinionated here, but it sounds to me like you're doing great and I'd hate for you to change what you're doing prematurely. Regarding vibrations, there's a thread here all about that, but you might want to just put that issue aside and--keep on noting!

Best of luck,
Joel