Why are directory links so important?

Are those better than other links?

[IITian]

I am confused. I hear people ranting about difficulties in submitting and getting one's sites listed on DMOZ, Yahoo or some other directories. Still most advise that getting the sites listed there is very important.

The way I look at it, being one of 100 links from a PR6 page of these directories is about same as being one of 100 links from a PR6 discussion page of an on-line magazine (or one of 100 links from some other PR6 forum.) These options are quite easy too - just publish a message and leave behind your url. What's the catch? Why are people dying to get in these directories?

I am confused. (Didn't I state it earlier?)

[bignooz]

Hi There. I suppose that because people review manually all URL submitted to Yahoo & Dmoz directories, the webs wich are submitted must have acceptable design/content/etc. to be included, and this attribute a better PR for the google index.
Well, itīs my opinion...

Bignooz

[Marcia]

It's important because there's value to links from unaffiliated "expert" sources.

[Powdork]

DMOZ,
Because Google says so.

Yahoo!,
Because they are an important site in their own right and may actually bring traffic.

<added>In not so competitive categories, a zeal listing targeting one keyword phrase alone will bring you as much traffic from msn as all of your Google traffic, not including affiliates.</added>

[mil2k]

Dmoz bcoz google likes and supports them.

Yahoo bcoz it sends it's own independent traffic (Know some guys who still feel Yahoo! is internet).

Zeal's Importance Powdork told you. Other vertical directories help you find relevant audience.

Not all directories are good.

Another factor which may help is that the directories are divided into relevant areas and hence putting your url on a page between related sites is also gonna help your rankings IMHO :)