OK I Have this finally working!
So in github theres two files: fabrik-master and joomla3. If you have Joomla 3.x, Even though you are looking at the Github fabrik files that are labeled "for joomla 2.5 and joomla 3.1, you get Fabrik-Master file when you click the download zip button, which is not for Joomla 3.1. You have to get the joomla3 file. I am not familiar on how to navigate github very well since I am new, but the Fabrik wiki lists this link to the joomla3 file:
https://github.com/Fabrik/fabrik/archive/joomla3.zip.
After getting the file, instead of uploading the entire package to your FTP, just upload the contents by major folders, like for my case, i needed the new list plugins, so I put the new items in the plugin/fabrik-lists folder. then Click discover, (they now appear, whereas they didnt before), install, and enable.
Now, these plugins at least show when I try to select list plugin options.
So, I go forth and see if these plugins will operate properly : )