Since you don't mention the circumstances of your application, it's not for anyone to comment on the need for it; but an unsolicited suggestion is to read up some of the posts regarding Mandamus before going down that route. My application took 40 months and even I was considering that option when I was at the end of my patience. Spoke to a lawyer friend at the time who advised against it; it's expensive, time consuming and apparently, IRCC doesn't take it too seriously going by the number of filings that happen. He advised me to wait for 6 months before thinking about it. Mercifully, I got the oath, within two months of that conversation.
Unless it is absolutely critical for you to file it, perhaps that money could be better utilized.
In my situation it is a no-brainer to do it, would be pretty stupid not to.
As far as I understand mandamus can only take a year if it goes to the last stage, which is very rare.
IRCC, on the other hand, may take decades. They are not motivated to work on old applications and there is no way to pressure them, the problems they are creating in our lifes are not of their concern.
I spent several weeks reading through the whole forum and searching on internet, seems like this is the only way to protect your rights.
Though I don't have any lawyer friends, and I guess internet doesn't have unlimited knowledge.
Definitely not interested in waiting another 6 months. I feel like checking the tracker twice a day for 15 months and having 0 updates is enough.
But yeah, I was looking for an answer to a different question. I have been asking the one you're answering for the past 3 months, but now the decision is made.