@MeredithAdams 

Firstly, I would recommend using the CLI tool to download your data, it will do all the tasks as described in the workflow. (Including authentication, API calll to request data, loading data to your local database and manage incremental update)

1. You can download data at any time (Except for web_logs, which only retain data for 30 days)

2. It's comparing against the last time you pull the data

3. Incremental data means instead of having to download the full data set (e.g. Canvas Data 1) you can request data at any particular point (E.g. last 15 days)

If you need to help setting up Canvas Data 2, feel free to send me a PM.