So in the first line, it has 1 and then checking to see if it's equal bumps it to 2 allocs, and finally the third call, to begin releasing, brings it to 3 (then removal of all 3)?

That's super weird - I have yet to encounter something along these lines in my Cocoa work so far. Solid idea to beat the system there. I just hope it's got a nice comment above it haha.