I own 9 sites that are all pr6, pr5 and pr3. I started with just two pr sites then use the pr sites to improve my newer domain. This is not a link exchange, but google usually do not credit your for link exchange. I am number one in Amazon, google and msn in most of my keywords. This is without paying them a penny. so i understand what you are talking about. i can give you a pr in a month and an improved alexa rank in 2 weeks, plus submit your site to 3000 plus engines . As we all know it takes a little while for google to offer those pr, I think monthly. i have testimonies to show.