Without iCloud synchronization, Reminders for Mac would only be a glorified todo list
Reminders is in fact supposed to be a To Do list. It is a place for common users to create To Do list items with alerts. That is what it was on iOS and it is what it is on OSX. The existence and implementation of iCloud or not does not change that fact.
Typically the tuts+ network is pretty good. Everyone makes mistakes.
Source: mac.tutsplus.com
