See also Final Version Perfected—a very effective task ordering method—but one that does depend on comparing tasks.
Something I have done in such cases is pretty close to the suggestion: Come up with a rating—but a coarse one, e.g. just low/medium/high—and then only compare the high ones further. The assumption is that the relative priorities of the lower ones might have changed when you get to them.
See also Final Version Perfected—a very effective task ordering method—but one that does depend on comparing tasks.
Something I have done in such cases is pretty close to the suggestion: Come up with a rating—but a coarse one, e.g. just low/medium/high—and then only compare the high ones further. The assumption is that the relative priorities of the lower ones might have changed when you get to them.