"That's exactly the argument that made me drop TMS subscription, in 1992.
Of course, there is plenty on or from the Moon.
The Moon has some vey interesting properties that are totally different from anything here on Earth.
It has not changed for billions of years (thus revealing very ancient events on its surface and in our solar system).
It has an axis 1.5 degrees from the perpendicular plan of the ecliptic, meaning areas where the sun always shines are very close to areas where the sun never shines, areas that have for those reasons, scientific importance (astronomy, geology, physics).
It has virtual vacuum, which is also important for astronomy and physics (gravity wave detectors).
The ground is millions of times more stable than Earth's ground, again useful for science.
It faces the Earth all the time or it never does, on the other side, which have their scientific importances.
It is not too far from Earth, which has logistical and safety matters (compared to Mars).
If we don't defend the Moon, how can we defend Mars? True, Mars has other expectations, has an atmosphere and could be colonized. It's colonization cannot, however, be based on the presence of an atmosphere as this one is far too thin to be survivable. The Mars environment is as deadly as the Moon's. Terraforming Mars? It's far too early to consider this.
The moon could also be colonized.
Asteroids too are not that different from the Moon in many aspects.
And finally, for me, the most important (but of course, not for most americans, I'm afraid),from the Moon, we see the Earth as it truly is...a planet."

Well, all above may be correct, but the most important aspect about the Moon is water at the polar regions. If there was no water on the Moon then my next alternative choice would the NEOs which have water- but first we would need to find them. I believe that NEOs would take longer- the water won't be on the surface, etc. Going to the Moon is something we can do immediately- this is not true of NEOs and certainly isn't true of Mars.
The choice is not Moon or Mars- it's is NASA going to do anything of any significant in space in the next few decades.