You do understand correctly TeamPlayer, the fact that search engine prefer link from contents pages does not mean the discount links from link sites, its just that the link from a contents page for example from your out doors sites to say my
camping equipment client carry more weight than a link from the link site to my clients camping equipment site
As a rough example, if link from your site is given say 10 points, link from the link site may be given say 2 points.
Also, there are some very reputable link directories, if you get a link from them it will also carry more wight for example a link from Yahoo directory or DMOZ is more highly though of than a link say from my humble
bid for placement directory