It's always harder now then before. I mean, you could easily mine BTC or some first alts like doge 8 years ago. You could earn money by investing in good ICO or by signature bounty 4 years ago easily. Now it's harder to earn that way, but it is easier if you just buy btc or other coin with money when market is in bear phase. That does not necessarily mean that it will become harder and harder as time pas to earn money by let's say bounty campaigns. Maybe 5 years from now will become another golden year for bounty again.