At the ICO you don't have to always invest. Usually ICO holds a bounty and airdrop campaign either before the ICO starts or the ICO is running. It is quite risky to invest in ICO. Before doing that, first do an analysis of the ICO project so that you don't get scammed.
Exactly, with some work you can earn tokens in many ways, more you work more tokens you can earn. I earned from many bounty campaigns, I still hold that
tokens, I believe in future they will worth much more than now.
I also invested in some of the ICO`s. In some ICO`s I invested money for tokens, plus I worked for tokens. Now I have some nice amounts of some tokens and
I hope that they will be very valuable in the future. I can sell them now and I would have some money for it, but that is like giving away something for almost
free.