Is it possible to take away the rating feature from xDirectory if I wanted to?

Just edit the template files

Thanks, that's helpful... except I have no idea how to do that. I would like to learn though.

You need to go to templates/xdir_link.html and remove the line after
<td align='right' width='30%'>
-------------------this line--------------------
<a href="<{$xoops_url}>/modules/xdirectory/ratelink.php?cid=<{$link.cid}>&lid=<{$link.id}>"><b><{$lang_rating}></b><{$link.rating}> (<{$link.votes}>)</a>

-----------------end here--------------
<br />

Then you should look through the other template files for the same line and delete it.
not sure off the top of my head which other files but I know there are some.

Then

To remove from the main menu, go to xoops_version.php and remove these lines

$modversion['sub'][2]['name'] = _MI_XDIR_SMNAME2;
$modversion['sub'][2]['url'] = "topten.php?hit=1";
$modversion['sub'][3]['name'] = _MI_XDIR_SMNAME3;
$modversion['sub'][3]['url'] = "topten.php?rate=1";

or just the bottom two lines

under
//Menu
has main

that should work

I tried changing the files you suggested, but the rating and comment links still show up in my business listings.

Can you please offer more assistance?

Thanks.

The files are still in your cache.
There are a few ways you can fix that one is you can go to the Template Set Manager in the admin area and [Clone] all your Templates. You have to give a name to the clone to do that.
See "New template set name"
You will see what I am talking about when you are on that page. Then go to the Preferences page (Preferences Main »» General Settings) and select your new clone as "Default template set"

Your done