Has anyone actually paid to be "featured" on a directory or newsletter? Did it work?

I keep getting pitched by directories, newsletters, and "startup showcase" sites asking for $50–$300 to feature my SaaS.

Some examples:

• "Get featured to 10K founders"
• "Top spot in our tool directory for $99/month"
• Newsletters promising "5K engaged subscribers"

Feels like most of these are just collecting money from desperate founders and delivering zero ROI. But maybe I'm wrong?

Has anyone actually paid for one of these and:

• Got real signups?
• Saw any traffic at all?
• Or was it completely dead?

Would love to know which ones are legit (if any) and which are just founder traps.

Currently working on my SaaS and trying to figure out where marketing budget actually moves the needle vs. where it just disappears.