Alot of sites get in there that aren’t submitted by the actual site owner. It is the editor’s job to find related sites and add them. Most of the editors just sit back and wait for submissions, then there are editors that go out hunting for sites to build their category.
The problem with DMOZ is that there is NO uniform way that each editor practices and this is my biggest gripe. Editors do what they please and are not supervised. Some don’t care who they list and don’t follow the guidelines. Others have a huge ego and you don’t dare say the wrong thing to them or they will ban you and remove any other sites you may have listed. Some will only list sites that are NOT in direct competition with them and even go as far as to de-list their competition or they simply ignore the submission and keep sending it back to the bottom of the pile. You would be surprised how many editors there are that are editors of a category they have their own site in. DMOZ views this as having experience and knowledge in a particular category if you have a relevent website.
They shouldn’t be allowed to operate like this, but they do. I have sites that I’ve been waiting for FOUR years to get listed. Totally unique content, but it doesn’t matter.
You are basically stuck with the cards you were dealt and just have to move on and make the best you can of it. It’s not right, but its just how it is – sorry to say.
MD is right, there are other ways to get listings and get your PR up. You may have to work harder at it, but there really isn’t a choice.