Lol, honestly, it's a very funny thing for me, who uses these directories? I mean, I never used any, I don't recall a single time when I used an directory to find a website, what's the point when it's fastest to type on google. But directories owners say that they have thousands of people visiting their website monthly, how is that? do people just get there randomly following links or googling companies with shitty websites - so that the directory listing comes up first on google because directories page is better optimized that the companies home page. Anyway, really, what's the point of directories other than getting links in, and can online directories be really used as sources of relevant traffic?
No its not like that before invent of search engine that was the only tool to find information. you might know about yahoo directory world's first directory. after Search engine advent that are just running with the purpose of link back and that is know by Directory Listing name and let me tell you that is working still. A SEO can not avoid such a nice resource for Back link which is feed for our site.