It is extremely difficult to create a portal site that doesn't subtract value from the internet: there's only so much content. But there is no limit on the number of spammers looking to collect ad revenue on someone else's content. And "portals" (or "doorways" or "online malls" or "directories" or whatever the link farms are called this week) are one of the standard spammer strategies.
Which also means it's extremely difficult to create a portal site that doesn't look like viscious spam.
And it also means it's extremely difficult to REVIEW a self-proclaimed "portal" site.
And it's usually not worth anything to review it.
Do you see the problem? Lots of hard work for the volunteers, no feeling of accomplishment for the volunteers....means, mostly, the volunteers do something else that's easier and more valuable.
For website owners who DO know the subject and AREN'T trying to spam, the solution is simple: create the content. A little unique content from a topical expert is MUCH better than yet another redundant set of links. There's nothing wrong with including links to another site. But the core of YOUR site is YOU--what YOU know, what happened to YOU, where YOU'VE been, what YOU'VE done now, and what YOU'D do for money. And, actually, until they know there's a you that has known and done and been, people shouldn't trust you to direct them to the good content anyway.
So start by doing the personal part of the site, then when you have a personal reputation, your recommendations to OTHER persons' sites might be worth something to someone. (But not until then!) And if you want someone else to look at your site, say "this is what I know about".
And when you want an ODP editor to review a site, don't say, "I'm deathly afraid my potential customers can be fully served by my competitors." Because that just tells everyone you wouldn't be missed. Say "A significant portion of my site doesn't HAVE any competitors." And make sure visitors can find that part easily.
