1. PD usually only affects 485 on a way when it is not current. 485 can not be approved (in most cases CIS even won't assign a case to an officer) when PD is not current.
2. VSC appears to continusously process the old cases they have. No new cases.
3. Check their processing time.
4. That is the only official place. There are several discussion boards including this forum on which people post their own experience.