Planet13 - 10:26 pm on Jan 8, 2012 (gmt 0)

It is just that I am not sure if the cost is worth it. There are free tools that can give a good sample of competitor backlinks (minus the SEO parameters like mozrank or unique domain links).

Certainly true.

I would add that it APPEARS that one of the paid tools (one I just signed up for) seems to have a much more complete list of links. I haven't gone through them all, so it might be that those links are on domains / sites that don't exist anymore, like geocities, or they are mistakes, or...?

So we will see. Again, it might be as you said that the free tools would list those links as well. However, I have tried open site explorer in the past (both paid and free versions), and the free version of link assistant, and I was a bit underwhelmed.

But that is just one person's opinion, and as always, your mileage might vary.