They give SEO value if the forum\blog isn't using the nofollow tag, if they are using it your getting 0.0% SEO value from them and the only benifit you would get is traffic from people clicking on the link themselves.
Awesome I herd that it has no value if you submit blogs to the free directories! you have to submit them to blog directories""
Web directories and blog directories are not the best ways to build backlinks either, again like I've said before, you need to build quality related backlinks to succeed in search engine ranking.
i agree the more quality back links that are related to your site the more higher you might rank in a search engine.
Exactly - and try to get some hardlinks. Have people in your niche blog about you - and create a link to your site.