Some of the brand new directories are better than the well know web directories..... Better software, more search friendly,cheaper, some of the old webmasters who made previous mistakes making sure it doesn,t happen in the new ones, Back in the old days we use to use 90 key words, and it was a favorites game with pr., now everyone knows pr, is a joke..
... There have been noticable changes through out the yrs., and our new directories are benifitting in the search anyone can buy or make back links in the search or be well known through the yrs., but what really matters is the serp content power of a web directory, because that power is pulling your key words in the search engine. Google doesnt give your website #1 serp, because you landed on lucky 7 in Vegas, But i can get great pr if i know a few good high page pr. sites, and create popularity.
My whole theory is submit to who google and yahoo thinks is the bst. in the key terms you want to do well in, and you can do no wrong.