I see thousands of resource links from the ones i submit, not all directories will put active links, some use no follow, but i have sites completely Dominating from articles in google, yahoo, msn, altavista ect.....
Your theory is 100% false. You can see them in all other search engines. and if you use google webmaster tools, you can see that articles credited as links.
But the biggest factor is top positions in the serps.
Hundreds of sites in the top 10 from articles, not just one or 2. But hundreds, and that is just what i have done and does not count the millions of others who do it on a daily basis across the web. This is not theory, but facts that can be proven and supported by documentation and results.
Here are some links credited in google on a link command :
link:http://www.idndirectsatellite.com - Google Search
You will see the same article credited as a link on several sites(article directories). This is just one site. I can provide hundreds if you need to see them.
Jim