I think smart contracts are an important part of tokens ecosystem, and Cardano's effective smart contract support is a big step forward for this platform. Smart contracts make tokens more valuable than a simple payment method.
Other blockchain WAVES also allows users to create tokens easily but does not allow them to use smart contracts, which restrains projects from realizing their solution.
I'm a smart contract fan, and I think tokens on Cardano also need smart contracts to survive and thrive.