A BIG Eureka on "Folder Icon migration"! 
One thing I am finding is that SOME programs (for example, the Stacks Docklet running on ObjectDock plus) will actually launch a 32 bit version of Explorer (re: Explorer*32.exe) instead of the 64 bit Explorer.exe under Vista 64.
In this case, if thumbnails have not been generated before, the thumbnails will be created with the old system default icons and not the new IP icons.
I believe this may indeed be the root cause of the Folder Migration issue I was talking about earlier, as this behaviour also CHANGES icons, etc. when they've been addressed by the 32 bit Explorer.
At my end, I've eliminated/replaced some Stacks Docklets from my dock and/or replaced actual folders with shortcuts in the stacks shortcuts directories I have kept. Apparently, Stacks Docklet will launch a FOLDER with Explore*32.exe but launches SHORTCUTS to folders with the 64 bit native Explorer.exe.
This also seems in line with the fact that ObjectDock, running under 64 bit OS, does NOT show the custom IP icons in the Flyout Menu docklet, but rather the 32 bit/old shell versions.
So, solutions might be...
A] IP does its magic with both the 32 bit and 64 bit versions of Explorer on 64 bit Vista, so that either version of Explorer shows the correct icons no matter what program accesses it, and from whatever path. This would solve the problem with native and third party docklets, but may not be possible for technical reasons I am not yet aware of (i.e. is it possible to modify both shells separately or does one take precedence)?
B] Stardock compiles native 64 versions of the docklets, though that won't solve the issue with third party docklets.
C] Something new or a combination/modification of A and/or B above. 
I hope this helps narrow this down.