yes to a certain extent, but giving them a reciprocal link or getting a paid link is always given first preference over the others. Think about it this way - how many sites will a webmaster maintaining a free public directory add for free everyday or even every weekend? Will need something in return for all the time spent via google adsense or other similar ads for which the directory needs more publicity. so reciprocal would always be preferred.
It depends on the requirements of each individual directory. Some require a reciprocal and some don't.
It usually banks on the requirements of each directory some require them some dont look into it. But directories suck now a days it takes for ever to get into them
But then who how people add their sites to a 1000 dirs and stuff? All those reciprocals would look really bad..