Well last thing first. My eyes are closed for everything. They are closed for exercises and meditation. I only open my eyes during the seven steps exercise and the finishing exercises. I even keep my eyes closed doing the finishing exercises for meditation.
I always take visualize as an alternate for imagine. I believe that the more real you can make the exercise the more it will be real. I believe that including feelings is important. Visualize is the dominant sensory system (even for tactile, kineostetic, and auditory people) and probably has the strongest impact when directing chi. Remember that the mind leads and chi follows.
Okay, changing to a short answer. Feeling it is okay, but I would say to add it not replace it. I personally visualize / imagine and then experience it with my senses. I find that kinestetic sensing helps deepen the experience in the active exercises. I find that fully immersing myself in the visualization intensifies meditation. By full immersing I mean like a controlled or directed day dreaming. I feel I am what I want to be and am visualizing (day dreaming).
Kind of taking it from a 2D movie into a full sensory experience. A memory of a feeling can be just as powerful as the original experience. Dreams can effect you as deeply as reality. Imagined reality can create as much stress as real ones. Actually the probably produce more for most people.
Sorry, I should learn to keep it short. Yes, feel it. You are supposed to close your eyes.
You are perfection and are dancing along the path of glory. 
Iam2 
P.S. You like that kev.
