why wont it incorporate other option groups?

It will, you just need to enable the desired fieldsets at admin/content/[type] under the "Vertical tabs" settings.

Input format is not included because it is not a "root" fieldset, it is grouped with the Body field in the actual form array, despite visually appearing to be in the root level. The input format needs to be located with the Body field in case more fields are added (such as through CCK) that also include input format fieldsets. It's not quite the same thing, but #357300: Place all top level form elements into a default vertical tab group will make it possible to put the body (and input format) and title into a single vertical tab.

I cant get the selected fieldsets to render as vertical tabs.

only revision, author, and publishing are ever rendered ad tabs, the others are just standard fieldsets.

what am i missing?

It should work with all collapsible fieldsets, this feature #357026: Support Non-Collapsible Fieldsets was not added until after the beta1 release, so it won't work with non-collapsible fieldsets unless you're using the development version.

im a dummy.
I forgot to run update.php. It changed its weight, it works now.

thanks.