Are web directories relevant to SEO?
The real question is can they provide high quality backlinks (and traffic)?
In most cases, the answer would be no.
Yes, You can get more visitors on your website if you submit your website in the web directory. You can also get a quality backlinks for your website by submitting it to web directories. It sends targeted traffic to your website.
Direct links are more likely to be taken as editorial votes of quality. Some redirected links may still count, but many of them will not.