Perhaps one way to handle it is to be much more critical of directories. If they have a default template - out, if they don't keep the cats tight to topic - out, if they just smell wrong - out, whatever criteria you use when you submit your own sites to directories. I've seen quite a few directories that require reciprocals for directory submissions - it does however penalize niche Almanacs. I think if more of us almanac owners stopped helping the really crappy directories promote themselves by listing them in our almanacs this topic wouldn't be necessary in the first place. I really like the Almanac idea - that is such a better term than directory. I've been thinking of a better word to use for one of my sites - I hope you don't mind that I use that with one of my sites, I've been pondering a way to get rid of the word directory in my site's subtitle.
Glad you like the word Almanac and there is a whole bumch of other words that could be used instead White Pages Gazette catalogue Inventories to name but a few