RFC updates - roid length restriction

We are currently evaluating EPP to replace our email based provisioning 
system in our ccTLD registry (.at)

One of the (surprisingly few remaining) issues we encountered is that 
handles for our contact objects extend beyond the 16-character limit of EPP 
repository object id's (we have handles like "AMFR12011011-NICAT". We don't 
want to change or even drop the suffix on our object identifiers (because 
all of our registrars would have to do the same in their internal databases) 
so our only option now seems to go for either an extension of some kind, or 
to completely replace contact & domain mapping with our local mappings.

The different roid length would then be the only essential difference 
between stock and local mappings, so we'd like to avoid that.

Questions:

- Did any other registry operators already encounter this, or are we the 
only ones who use "oversized" handles (i can't believe that)?
- Should therefore the length restriction be extended (to eg. 32 characters) 
in the "refurbished" drafts to safely avoid such problems?

any comments appreciated.

Alex Mayrhofer
nic.at