i think article submission is the best way, but unique and quality articles. if you have good original content others will link your website on "resource" pages, people will talk about you in forums, but at the beggining, buying links is a good way too.
Well, you have a point, it depends on the way you want to optimize, as long as you submit it to high PR or high traffic sites
well, i agree with rubeina that's because most don't know how to do it or even have a good list. lemme tell you, it ain't nowhere near 300. more like 30 or 40...maybe. oh yeah, you have to combine the method you talked about plus the one above to get full potential.