Non-lucid dream control

Last night I was at a demolition derby and this girl in an ugly green corset was making fun of a friend who had competed in the derby. I said something to her about being fat, and she turned it back with, "You're one to talk." Somehow, time stopped while I tried to think of a better insult (ie. one more immune to comebacks) and then reversed to just prior to my orginal insult. Unfortunately, I then woke up.

I've had a couple of LDs before and this felt nothing like them: I simply had a desire to 're-try' the insult, and it just happened. I've had a couple of other similar experiences though, a kind of non-lucid dream control, in which I'm not aware that I'm dreaming, but am able to command and alter dream reality. It's frustrating whenever I do something like this; it's so obviously a dream, but somehow I manage to miss that little tid-bit.

Does anyone have any suggestions, thoughts? Stories of similar experiences? Is this a 'stage' on the way toward lucidity? Thanks for reading :)