yup, looks like AOL http://whois.domaintools.com/dmoz.org Registrant ID:AOL-NC-08565 Registrant Name:Netscape Communications Corporation
http://www.dmoz.org/about.html tells a lot about what the project is and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Directory_Project provides some more historical information.
I use Google exclusively (it gives me what I want very quickly), and I used it a lot when I was an editor, but I used other tools as well. There are also times when I go to categories within the Directory because I want to get a good list of sites on a topic that I know a human has collected as being worthy of looking at. (but how many people really know about the Directory?) I don't always find those good collections of sites in every category, but, I know it's because of a lack of manpower within the Directory, not many people are willing to work for free. They are always willing to complain about others, but not willing to give up their own free time.