Vividness mainly in recall?

I had a dream last night where my RC's failed me, and was not lucid
Explaining to my mother about lucid dreaming, I emphasised how real it really is, and its as real as whats around us (hitting the wall as example)
I remember it being very very vivid.

However upon waking, its not *as* vivid anymore.
In that dream I was entirely logical and conversational. Very in tune with my faculties - except for the part of not noticing the dream itself.

Perhaps recall has more to do with vividness than the true realism of the dream while you are in it?