I met my lawyer last Friday regarding my RIR case(conversion to PERM or stay in RIR), here is some information I'd like to share with you.
conversion to perm is possible but there are two risks: get more resumes and some sent directly to DOL. Job order has to be identical to original, once the officer determine it's not identical, lose priority date.
Since my case was filed july/2002, he suggested me stay in RIR becausemy case is EB3.
by the way, he told me the NY SWA is packing the old cased now when he called them last week, so there is a hope. And also he said believe me they(DOL) want to clear all the old cases too but don't know how.