Method for downloading iCloud files? Very confusing?

I have basic iCloud support in my application (syncing changes, making ubiquitous, etc.), but one crucial omission so far has been the lack of "download" support for files that exist (or have changes) in the cloud, but are not in sync with what's currently on disk.

I added the following methods to my application, based on some Apple-provided code, with a couple tweaks:

The download methods:

- (BOOL)downloadFileIfNotAvailable:(NSURL*)file {
    NSNumber*  isIniCloud = nil;

    if ([file getResourceValue:&isIniCloud forKey:NSURLIsUbiquitousItemKey error:nil]) {
        // If the item is in iCloud, see if it is downloaded.
        if ([isIniCloud boolValue]) {
            NSNumber*  isDownloaded = nil;
            if ([file getResourceValue:&isDownloaded forKey:NSURLUbiquitousItemIsDownloadedKey error:nil]) {
                if ([isDownloaded boolValue])
                    return YES;

                // Download the file.
                NSFileManager*  fm = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
                NSError *downloadError = nil;
                [fm startDownloadingUbiquitousItemAtURL:file error:&downloadError];
                if (downloadError) {
                    NSLog(@"Error occurred starting download: %@", downloadError);
                }
                return NO;
            }
        }
    }

    // Return YES as long as an explicit download was not started.
    return YES;
}

- (void)waitForDownloadThenLoad:(NSURL *)file {
    NSLog(@"Waiting for file to download...");
    id<ApplicationDelegate> appDelegate = [DataLoader applicationDelegate];
    while (true) {
        NSDictionary *fileAttribs = [[NSFileManager defaultManager] attributesOfItemAtPath:[file path] error:nil];
        NSNumber *size = [fileAttribs objectForKey:NSFileSize];

        [NSThread sleepForTimeInterval:0.1];
        NSNumber*  isDownloading = nil;
        if ([file getResourceValue:&isDownloading forKey:NSURLUbiquitou