What Does it Actually Mean to Own a Token as an Investment?

So we all know how stocks work, you own a part of the company. But what does it mean to own a token? If a VC firm invests in a Crypto company, they get options and precedence over standard token holders to my understanding – but token holders don't actually OWN part of the company.

For example, why should I buy ETH? I understand it's used for gas fees, but is there actually any value in owning this token?

If I buy a house or a farm, it's very clear to mean what I own and the benefits I get out of owning these assets.

I'd like to avoid owning a token purely over speculation – just because I hope the price will go up. I'd like to actually own a part of a company I believe in.