If I understand right, the question is why do projects need a Token at all, why it is necessary to have one in case you'd like to start an ICO.

Let me break it down for you:

There are several types of tokens:
utility token, equity token, asset token and a currency token.
A utility token allows you to do things, it gives you specific rights or abilities you didn't have before.
An equity token implies ownership and control.
An asset/equity token represents some sort of physical asset or product. In terms of their economic function, the tokens are analogous to equities, bonds or derivatives.

There are many other kinds like Reputation and Reward Tokens, often used in bounty campaigns in exchange for something the community does for a project like retweets or likes on twitter or somewhere else.

Let's say you have a Cinema Token, you'd get tickets for an asset token or even a share of that cinema for an equity token, extra big cola for free or an ability to choose a movie if it is a utility token.

So, basically one needs to decide what kind of services a project offers and depending on that the team must decide what token to offer.
There are many pros and cons for each of those tokens, but I better write an article about it and give the link as a reference.
Not every project needs a token, most of the time it is used only in order to collect funds during an ICO.
After that if the token is no longer its cost is greatly reduced as nobody needs it.

I just read today, that "Vitalik Buterin teams up with Stanford to found the Center for Blockchain Research".
I personally believe that is very and very useful to teach the next generations about the concepts that can disrupt so many existing industries just like that.

After reading so many posts here I might add that the word "depression" is used so much as if it would be the answer to everything.
There are external factors in the lives of each of us that make us feel bad. But we resist.
Once we stop resisting and stop believing in ourselves, the hope dies and there is no reason to live to be found.
But there are so many little things that make people that notice them happy.
I know I may sound like a self-help book, but I was really into this topic and read multiple real studies on happiness and depression, desire to live and suicidal thoughts.
One of the recurring reasons was that one wants to have something and can't.
They say "When you desire to change the world, you need to start with yourself", but if you won't you'll be very dependent on the external factors that sometimes make you feel good and sometimes make you wanna die.
There must be an internal core which does not depend on opinions of others.

In my humble opinion, the platform can't be held responsible for experts' frauds and if some packages are overpriced or useless, why even talk about it, just don't use them.
Honestly, I believe one could complain about false ratings by greedy experts or one can be thankful, that such a platform exists. I haven't seen a platform with higher reputation and with experienced and well-known experts (not all, of course).

Though I like constructive critics, the points in the article, in my opinion, are not fair and sometimes even silly:
 If a beautiful jewelry costs a lot, you don't call it a fraud.
Sometimes even advisors don't know if an ICO is going to be a scam. Having only a website, a whitepaper and some photos of the team, you can't make any arguments about the validity of an ICO and the plans of its creators.

Instead of complaining one could build something better and then make a comparison.
By sitting on the sofa and calling names one can't make any impact.

I have no connection to the platform, these are just my opinions  .