Chugging/vibration/noise at highway speed

Correct, I haven't tried dropping it into neutral at highway speed though. That should tell me a lot I think.

Perhaps. Now we need to determine if it's drive shaft speed, or tire/axle speed. This is simple. Does it sound and feel like a heard of pissed off bumble bees? That's high frequency vibration and is indicative of drive shaft and pinion speed.

Or, is it more of a "whomp whomp" like when you get a flat tire and can feel that it's axle and or wheel and tire speed?

If you can make that determination, that will narrow it down a little more.