I am one of the persons you talked to on Reddit (also a she not a he).
EB2 NIW (PD Dec 2021) I’ve been DQd since 8 Dec 2023 and I’ve been waiting 5.5 months for my IL.
I have received 3 of those automatic emails so far (every couple months) informing me I am still in line. Also contacted the NVC - they told me I am in line, and the embassy - they told me my file is at NVC. So there’s not much to be done but wait it seems.
I talked to a few CR1s and they are not getting theirs before 3 months at the moment so I would wait at least a couple months before contacting the NVC. Be prepared to wait a while.
I also read 1y for IL in Paris for EB2-NIW… and did not believe it, yet here I am closing on soon 6 months of wait!