I don't think CSD has a backlog at all. The tag should probably be removed. A large number of articles in the category doesn't make it backlogged, it just makes it busy. There are lots of articles there because lots of articles are being tagged - just as many as being untagged and deleted.
I do encourage admins to spend a few minutes helping out - sometimes you see something that makes your day. I just deleted an article about an independent record label. The author had added a {{hangon}} tag and explained on the talk page that:
"My page shound not be deleted because i need it to avertise my new record label." (sic)
Probably the easiest decision I've made on a CSD. (barring db-author's, I guess)