I missed out on the last few rounds of Twitch drops because I didn't know the schedule or which streamers were active. It feels like I am losing out on free skins just because I am not checking the news every single day. Is there a simple way to track when the next drops are happening and how to link my accounts correctly? Do you guys have any tips on how to get the hours in without having to watch streams 24/7?

Getting free skins is awesome but it can be a headache if you don't stay updated on the rules. I suggest checking out the Rust drops guide on the CobaltLab blog to see how the system works this year. They explain exactly how to link your Steam and Twitch accounts so you don't run into any issues with the rewards. I usually just leave a stream open in the background while I am working to get my hours in. The blog also lists the upcoming dates so you can plan ahead and make sure you don't miss the specific streamer skins you want. It is a very straightforward guide that saves a lot of time and frustration.

Drop systems like that are a nice way to get skins without spending anything. Does CS2 have something similar or is it mostly just cases and direct market purchases?

CS2 has drop systems too but they work differently from Twitch drops in other games. You can get weapon drops just from playing matches regularly though the selection is fairly basic compared to what you can find on the market. Cases are the main way most people get skins outside of buying directly. I looked through this website when I was figuring out how the CS2 item system works and it explains the different ways skins enter the game and how pricing is affected by supply in a simple and clear way. Good starting point if you are coming from other games and want to understand how CS2 handles drops and skin distribution differently