I Return triumphant, and gentlemen, i must say you were incorrect.
The I/O edition does not give you the option to access recovery at any point, even with the Pwr+VOL DN boot.
You can put it into download mode, and certianly use ODIN to install the recovery rom, but you will have no method to actually access recovery to push zip files.
thanks to some quick self education on using fastboot, i was able to root successfully.
To those of you in a similar situation who stumble upon this thread, i invite you to visit:
http://droidbasement.com/db-blog/?p=2439
There you can download CWM in a .img format for use with fastboot.
This link is where you can download fastboot:
http://xdaforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=596615&d=1305443483
and you'll need to install PDANet for Android to get the fastboot drivers:
http://junefabrics.com/android/
I belive you'll also need ADB installed from the Android SDK. i do have it installed on this computer, but did not use the ADB command at any point, just fastboot.
Instructions:
1. Download fastboot, PDANet for android, and the recovery image. You'll also need "Samsung_Galaxy_Tab_10.1_root.zip" found in Root.zip from the retail version instructions.
2. Copy the "Samsung_Galaxy_Tab_10.1_root.zip" to the tablet, and and power it off. Disconnect the USB connection
3. Unzip fastboot zip into it's own folder, and then copy your recovery.img file into the same folder.
4. Start the install of PDANet. It will ask you if you want to install drivers about half way through. say yes, and select "Samsung" when the time comes. it will install some drivers and then ask you to try and connect. windows may flare up and say they're unsigned. accept anyway.
5. watch this friendly video on how to start fastboot on your tablet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR7vE4IueaU
"fastboot!"
Basically the same as the steps outlined for the retail version, but you will go to the usb icon instead of the box.
6. once the tablet is in fastboot, connect the USB cable. PDA net will recognize it as an ADB connection and try and load itself. it will fail, that's fine. Let the installer exit completely.
7. Open a command line in windows, and get it to the directory fastboot.exe and your recovery image are in.
8. run your fastboot command. i only used it temporarlily, so my command was:
"fastboot boot recovery-cwm_5.0.2.7-sam-tab-10.1.img"
9. the tablet should now boot into the recovery image presented. hooray! follow the remaining instructions from the retail version root, using recovery to load the "Samsung_Galaxy_Tab_10.1_root.zip" and reboot.
10. Once you've done all that, select to reboot. The tablet will reboot. i took the opportunity to disconnect the cable.
11. "Superuser" should now be in your apps, and you're rooted!
Extra Step: Download "Rom Manager" by clockwork from the android market, and install it. from here, opt to flash recovery. Once that's complete, you can now access recovery by launching that program and simply hitting "Reboot into Recovery"