So, expectation/intention and self-awareness are key to "detecting that feeling". So, with practice, your self-awareness increases and lets you know you are dreaming better and better with more practice. And, we need expectation/intention to plant that self-awareness, and the activated memory is needed to remember that this phenomena is a dream, or that what all this is is dream components(info needed to analyze the current state). Ok, it is not a feeling, but self-awareness. So, it is not enough to use MILD with Novadreamer to get a bunch of LDs, then assume you have become an expert at detecting when you are dreaming.
It is all about the fundamentals. But you never mentioned in your class how to use a LD to develop the skills(I think). If you can, then that extra bunch of LDs caused by the Novadreamer could be handy.
Sorry for the long questions, but the answers where very helpful, thank you.
So, I should stop trying to figure it out now. I will truly understand only when I become a proficient LDer.