This is a good example of the situation that private directories face. The ODP has over 1000 links; Yahoo has over 1500. What value can you add to what the surfer can already find at the directory are already surfing? And what are the chances that in another six months you'll still be able to add value above and beyond what the collaborative projects provide?
I don't know the answer to that question. (That's why I try to work cooperatively and incrementally with other people to the same goal--so our work is additive rather than combative.) The editor who reviewed the site didn't see that it gave an answer either. And that was that.
And yes, probably we have directories that were listed some time ago, that will be deleted whenever they are next reviewed (judged by the current standard.) That's usually the case -- which is one reason that forward-looking editors are ever more hesitant to add directories: over time, their value degrades even if they don't disappear.