A proper automated directory submission program should submit your website to the right category. I'm quite surprised that many of you think manual submission is the way to go just because you know you are submitting to the right category. I'm a programmer, i've built applications to login in to websites (using my username and password) and get specific information from there without even visiting the site - all done within my program. So now how difficult can it be to check whether a category exists before submitting a site, eh? If that doesn't convince you, then wait a few weeks because right now i'm building an Article Submitter and you can see for yourself. Yeh digixmas does it pretty well but i prefer my own thing and can include as many directories as i want (probably 200000!).
I think, there is no s/w which will automate directory submission as its difficult choosing the category and entering the captcha codes. Also if it submits to wrong category, most of the time they won't be listed in the directories. Its always better to go for manual submission or semi automated s/w ( which will fill all the fields). If you don't have time, you can always outsource.
Manual Directory Submission always Good.there is 90% chance to Approved. AS SEO I'll suggest Manual Directory Submission. Please don't thing that I'm offering Manual Directory Submission for that I say this. It's real thing you can as any SEO prof.
So called automated directory submission softwares are not really automated. In most directories these days webmasters ask for capcha verification entry. You have to enter that manually. Manual seem to bring better results to me as compared to automated.