Besides PR, how does one know which backlinks are going to be considered important by google? I am sure we all have more backlinks than google says we have. I have tons more than digitalpoint backlink tracker says I have. If I am going to buy links, I want to buy the ones that will make mommy google happy.
So, is it a good idea to buy lots of links and then, after waiting a while, check which ones google liked and then cancel the rest, trying over and over again with other links?
Google will never show you which of your backlinks are considered the best. I've heard theories about looking at the order Google lists them in, as being important, or the order in which Yahoo lists your IBLs, but I don't believe it. I haven't seen any evidence of this ranking of IBLs.
So are you saying that even though google doesn't list the link, doesn't mean that they don't think it is important?
Correct. Google is infamous for deliberately not showing you backlinks. How are you searching for your backlinks on Google? (there are alternatives to the link: command)
Here is a list of some of the things I look at when I am on the hunt for quality links. Besides PR. When looking at the page it will go on... What is the Cache Date of the page? Quality & quantity of links to that page. How many out going links are on that page? What sites are linked to from that page - Is it good cocitation? Where on the page will the link be placed? Is the page related to my page? Is the site related to my site? Does that page rank for my keywords? Or for any keywords. Is the site well integrated into the section of the web I want to be in? Hope that helps.