I understand that NEO is a similar platform to Ethereum. On the Ethereum platform, Ether is the currency for their smart contracts. Etherereum doesn't have it's own tokens; only Ether.

NEO tokens are like having stock in the company that runs the platform. All those using the platform will require GAS tokens. So GAS is really the equivalent of Ether/Ethereum. NEO is the Chinese version of Ethereum and complies with all of the Chinese laws.

I like your thinking here and GAS is really much newer than NEO/ANS. My thinking is that GAS has more potential at this point than NEO and NEO is predicted by many to go up a lot more.

You don't read too much about GAS now, but it's still very early.