The title says it all. I'm not a web developer but I do actively plug our own SEO. I'm seriously considering the $300 yearly Business.Com Directory listing as it's a PR9 Directory and I'm thinking it might just boost our PR? What you think everyone?
Won't boost your pr, but will give your site a bit more credibility. However, I used it before and saw little or no changes in pr or rankings.
I think also that it will not effect on pr of your website! There also a lot of free directories that give some results
Personally i would take the $300 and buy a large collection of links a few $40 a few $5 along with some good "free" ones etc
There is a guy with reference, who sells 1000 PR 8 links at edu sites for 300 bucks and even he offers payment divided to 2 termines.
It can pay off in the long run, but it's not absolutely necessary in order to succeed. I think if you can afford it, go ahead, otherwise just wait until you make enough to cover the costs.