Regardless of whether they're updated or not, RSS feeds are generating duplicate content and not the original source, so the value is going to be either none, or more likely, less than comments on an original source.  And if you're actually here asking this question, I'd suggest that unless you perform a specific test, in a specific situation across a specific market niche, you're not always going to get the same results.

And unless you're looking for brute force link building, it seems like a poor time expense to pursue these given the dupe-content factor.  And if you are looking for brute force link building, don't rely on this method being sustainable.

Absolutely.  In my presentation at SMX Advanced this week, I touched on the critical need for inbound links to have a healthy variety of anchor text, as that is the only way to emulate natural links.

Brand variations
domain name
high level keyword phrases
mid level keyword phrases
long tail phrases
generic text

These should all be part of the mix, over time. And this would include, for local sites, anchors with and without various forms of geo.

I'm in complete agreement with NinjaMarketer on this one.  Also consider chambers of commerce, other high quality business or industry specific directories, on a case by case basis.  Each one needs to be properly evaluated to ensure the highest quality possible, along with the most relevance - either geographically, or market focused.  There is no "easy" or "quick fix" path to this process if you want to get maximum value.

Local pack exists, yet is far from complete or consistently helpful.  Business directories thrive even in an age of local packs.  It's all about finding the best way to provide value, and the internet is large enough that many players can play in the game.

In regard to shorter URLs:

The goal is to find a proper balance for your needs.  You want to group things into sub-groups based on proper hierarchy, however you also don't want to go too deep if you don't have enough pages/individual listings deep down the chain.

So the Moz post you point to refers to that - at a certain point, having too many layers can be a problem. However there is one one single correct answer.

The most important thing to be aware of and consider is your own research and evaluation process for your situation in your market.

However, as far as what you found most people search for, be aware that with location based search, many people don't actually type in a location when they are doing a search.  Except Google DOES factor in the location when deciding what to present in results.  So the location matters even though people don't always include it themselves.

The issue is not to become completely lost in making a decision either though - consider all the factors, make a business decision to move forward with what you come up with, and be consistent in applying that plan across the board.

What I mean in regard to URLs and Breadcrumbs:

If the URL is www.askme.com/dehli/saket/pizza/pizza-hut/  the breadcrumb should be:

Home > Dehli > Saket > Pizza > Pizza Hut

If the URL is www.askme.com/pizza-huts/saket-delhi/ the breadcrumb should be

Home > Pizza Hut > Saket-Delhi