GPO for "Files Not Cached" not working ?? -- need help quickly please -- 500 pts

I have a domain called BARNESNET.  My users are using roaming profiles and their desktop and "my documents" folders are being redirected to a server share.  A few users have laptops and when they are disconnected to the server share, their "my documents" and "desktop" files need to be made available offline.  I have moved my users MS Outlook data from the "local settings" folder to a folder under "my documents" called "outlook data" for several reasons.  

At the domain level, I have a GPO policy that defines some default stuff for everyone.  In that policy, I have put a custom list of file extensions to exclude when synching:

barnes_default_policy > Admin Templates > Network > Offline Files > Files Not Cached

Most notably, I have removed *.pst, and *.mdb from the default list because I want MS Outlook and MS Access files to be made available offline.

I have made sure that the GPO security settings are applying to "domain computers" and to "barnes_employees" which is the computer group and user group that I want this setting to apply to.

I have done a RSoP on a user and computer and my "files not cached" setting appears correctly.  It is only set in the "barnes_default_policy" so there is not any inheritance problems that I can see.  All should be well.

However, when I actually log into said computer, there are two things that make me think the GPO isn't actually being applied to the computer.

1) When I look at the computer policy by using gpedit.msc, I don't see my "files not cached" setting.  However, I am not that familiar with GPOs, so maybe the policy the local computer policy that gpedit.msc is showing me is not the same policy that is in effect for my domain controlled user.

2)  When I logoff, I still get warning messages about 'pst' and 'mdb' files not being able to be made available offline.

So, my questions are:

1)  How can I know if my GPO from the domain is actually being applied to the computer when I am logged onto it.

2)  How can I know for sure that the files are actually being made available offline.  Keep in mind that I am doing this at a remote location, so I can't just unplug the machine and see if Outlook works.  It has to be something I can do without physically touching the machine.  

3)  How can I get rid of the "files not able to be made available offline" error messages.

Points go to that person who helps quickly BUT also sticks with me to the end of the problem.  Points WILL BE AWARDED when the question is satisfactorily answered.

Thanks.