Are paid directory listings ever worth it for you?

Marketing
1

I can’t feature paying $15 for a single permanent link on any directory site. I just can’t imagine that even a PR4 or 5 link could be worth it for SEO purposes, particularly since it would be on a page with many other links.

Has anybody paid for listings like this, and if so, what were the results?

Thanks!

2

I suppose it would be worth it if the listing would raise my PR, guaranteed. I would be able to sell more ads that way.

However - since there are no guarantees like that forthcoming, I believe paid placement (in the case of free content-based sites) is a waste of money.