I'd say the number of times this works (the article with links staying versus getting canned) is small. I bet I've done this a couple of dozen times over the past 6 months only to find the article/write up gone a day or few days later. I guess just like any forum with lots of die-hard fans and readers. Don't push your way in at the start. You have to have contributed to the space and learn who the forums members are and how rules are followed. Just like with social sites, you have to take your time, build relationships, etc. Unfortunately, many like myself just don't have that many hours during the day.
Good advice. I'm trying to do that more with my blog computer-friends.blogspot.com, which is very niche-centric. Not much success so far, but I'll keep plugging away at it.