"Feedback" - Reading Tire Traction (especially the front)

This is a little long, but hopefully all you riding fanatics will enjoy it.  My simple question is, what does it "feel like" when the front tire is at the edge of traction?

I've read many performance riding technique books and motorcycle magazines for years.  With all the importance placed on traction and how much feedback you get from tires, chassis, suspension, etc., there seems to generally be little discussion about what this "feedback" actually feels like, especially at the front tire.

I wanted to open up a forum for sharing knowledge about "feedback" to help riders understand what they are feeling in different traction situations.  Here are some of my (admittedly limited) experiences.

Rear "stepping out"
I think this is a pretty good description of feeling the rear tire begin to spin in a turn with the result being that the rear end/tire "steps" or "slides" toward the outside of a turn.  For me, when applying the throttle, you don't feel as much forward push as you do when the rear tire "hooks up" and you feel the rear of the bike rotating around.  The speed of the sliding/rotating varies.  In wet or slippery situations or with a lot of throttle, the tire can slide very fast with a big "step".  In high traction situations or with controled throttle, the slide can be quite slow with a small "step".

Sudden traction loss on gravel (braking or cornering)
Unfortunately, this one is up to quick reactions to save as there is generally no warning for it.  The front tire suddenly slides.  Pushing on the handlebars in this situation gives less resistance than usual and uneven pressure on the handlebars makes the front wheel turn suddenly.  The resulting countersteering input makes the bike want to drop quickly to the ground.  It will wake you up quickly.

Rear Tire "skipping"
This is a pretty good description of when you downshit without properly matching engine speed to wheel speed.  In this situation, the bike's weight is on the front wheel, leaving the rear of the bike light and unloaded.  The engine's breaking action slows the rear wheel and, with the weight distribution, causes the wheel to "skip/skid."  You can sometimes hear this skipping as a chirping.  It feels to me like a very quick but low amplitude bouncing or loading and unloading of the rear suspension.  Depending on how much weight is on the front, the rear can wiggle from side to side.

Front wheel "pushing" or "drifting"
This is one I would like some opinions on.  The best I can describe it is kind of like riding a bicycle over rough (but not really bumpy) pavement.  You sort of feel a vibration through the handlebar that comes from the front tire and is distinctly different from engine vibes.  This may just be the road surface (perhaps grainy asphalt being ampliphied through the tires/suspension).  It may also be the edge of front tire traction.  Since I am not interested in pushing it until the front end tucks, I ease off in these situations and don't actually feel the bike drift or push at all.

Any thoughs?  Other descriptions of "feedback"?  Suggestions on where this information may already be readily available?  I'm trying to keep learning on my own until I have the time & money to do a track school.  

Thanks for your input!!  

Other than a fast reaction for gravel, any suggestions for getting througha slippery turn? I live in Nebraska and all the roads (especially turns) are laced irradically with gravel everywhere. Mostly due to being an agricultural state there is also a lot of tar snakes from tractors tearing up roads that constantly make that front tire push out in a turn. Just suck it up? or take a differant lean angle? any advice from your experiences.  

front wheel feedback is a tricky thing, my experience has led me to running the stickiest fronts to avoid having to worry about tucking, but the edge of traction feedback you seem to be asking about can vary from tire to tire, some people prefer dunlops because they give a mild "losing traction" feeling near the end of your lean angle... michelin are more like 100% right up to edge then WHAM... and pirelli seem to be more like the dunlops IMO.
The idea is sort of like the feeling you'd have going over a mildly damp or sandy section in a corner where you'd notice things are moving, but a secure feeling will resume if you don't over correct or freak out.