Hi philltee,
Goenkaji has sort of simplified many concepts of Vipassana due to his background and for making it understandable to every alphabetic Indian.
The confusion in both of your questions comes from the most dominant simplification of Goenka (and not 'Vipassana' - as it was thought by the Buddha), that by observing pleasant and unpleasant sensations with equanimity - sankharas of craving and aversion would be elaminated till all of them are gone and one would be free from them.
I can give you two hinds for a preciser understanding of this simplification:
1.) If you look at Paticca Samupada – Dependent Origination – you will be surprised that 'craving' itself isn't a cause, but comes much later as an effect after and from Ignorance and Sankhara.
And Goenka does acknowledge this in the long courses when he says, that actually not even Sankhara, but Ignorance is the very first cause which has to be changed to Panna – Wisdom - for no more Sankharas to arise with all other effects along Paticca Samupada.
And he also says that the yardstick to make his vipassana work would be – that one has to remain equanimous with actually felt sensations AND the understanding of their impermanence. Where the later part is where Panna possibly develops and Ignorance - the primal cause for Dependent Origination – gets truly eliminated.
One monk, I once spoke about this, likened the simplified understanding of eradication of sankharas, one by one, to the digging away of a huge mountain with a small spoon, it would take as much time to erraticate sankharas one by one and therefore never leading to any results.
However, with the Wisdom developed in Goenka's Vipassana, Paticca Samupada could indeed come to a full stop, and how it is explained more precisely in the longer courses.
2.) If you look at the roadmap outlined by the Buddha, the stages to full awakening start with Sotapana, who has elaminated doubt concerning the uselessness of rules-rituals and personality believe only. Next comes Sakagadamin, who has weakened craving and aversion. Then only an Anagamin indeed has elaminated every sensual craving and aversion. And finally the Arahat gets free of Craving for Fine-material existence, Craving for Immaterial existence, Conceit, Restlessness, and of the last remains Ignorance.
This roadmap clearly point to the futility, that craving or aversions could already get eliminated if one isn't free of personality and ritualistic believes yet. However, indirectly, the Panna propagated in Goenkas courses could lead to the eradication of personality believe.. and from there of all the remaining fetters.
Hope this helps you to a more preciser understanding as Goenka provides in his ordinary 10-day courses.
Kind regards..