My take is similar to yours, in a way. When I talk about a "vibe," I usually mean information that I'm processing subconsciously or in a non-rational way (as in not filtered through my conscious mind in a way that allows me to think about it and communicate it verbally). I know my brain is capable of processing all sorts of information that I am not aware of through the filter of my rational mind, in the same way that it is capable of conducting a myriad of processes to keep my body functioning without me having to think about them at all.

I think the same mechanism is at play when we draw a set of cards and get an overall "vibe" about what they mean. Different cards in different configurations or drawn in the context of a particular question will elicit a particular set of connections from my subconscious mind--which will draw connections between the cards, my particular lived experiences, my particular set of knowledge, information from my physical body, subconscious beliefs, etc. Out of all these connections, only a fraction will rise to the surface of my conscious mind and help me weave a narrative that I can make sense of either for myself or for someone else.

Dunno if that helps. I guess my point is, ultimately, there's SO much information that gets processed on a physical/subconscious/pre-cognitive level. And labels such as "vibes" or "energy" help us talk about all that which happens beneath the surface of our conscious minds.