The days are gone where we could easily get huge amount of free bitcoins from faucet sites and now if you are looking for absolutely free bitcoins then you will not find any single method to get it and if you want to have bitcoins in your wallet then only way is to work hard to get it.
It's better to say that you can get free satoshi's instead of saying free bitcoins from the faucet. And you are right with it, when we say about earning for free, there's no way to earn as free, you need to work hard for it. Maybe there's no investment included but your hard work which is going to generate earning from it.
Hard work is the key to success but without proper skills and experience your hard work is of no use.Skills and experience are the things which are irreplaceable, through your skills and experience you will be able to pick the right and easier path to earn. And investment only works if you invest money at right place. As far as the free earning is concerned, there is no such thing exist and there is nothing free in this world.
That's right, skills and experience plus hard work will always be the requirement to earn. This "free" bitcoins or any rewards that you want exist in this world like claiming with faucets or having some tips or asking donation, those things are free. It is why many newbies are into faucets because they think it's not hard and the amount they can get is free.