There might still be airdrops for cheaper networks, so why can't we just do them instead? Those airdrops who constantly change their rules are unfair because it looks like their goal is to not reward their participants properly or give them only less tokens for the good quality of efforts that they have done. After all, it was still their project so they have the rights to do whatever they can. Guess all we can do is to move on and better luck next time.
Testnet airdrops are an alternative but their name says it all. They are free and the quality of tokens we can get might also be low or poor and there are also scams. I joined a lot of these in the past but I'm only disappointed.
Left alternative way to earn free in cryptocurrency by joining testnet, but currently many project have difficult task and most of participants have to buy with testnet token for bridge or add in liquidity to qualify testnet airdrop. Some airdrop has change their rule at the end after many user participants and most of airdrop delay with sending reward, join an airdrop have guarantee how much reward allocation for participants and check with their road map clearly when launching mainnet coins/token until how much reward allocation for community and airdrop participants.
Today most kinds of airdrop running in telegram account, some airdrop likely as mining working but its worth have several airdrop success listing with higher price and worth for joining.