"Serious question.

I don't think colonies on the Moon are in the cards. Permanent bases of some kind? Yes. The Moon has some things to offer."

Hmm. What the Moon has to offer depends on "where we are at" in space development. I think it has a lot to offer from CATS to the stage of launching spaceships to other star systems.

"Maybe I'm being too much of a pessimist, as I tend to be with things relating to space. I don't think solar power satellites will ever happen, but not because they won't ever be technically feasible. They should be possible at some stage. I just think our civilization will go with something whose supply is easier to control, like nuclear power."

What kind of nuclear power are you talking about? Are you including unknown technology such as using fusion? Or you are just talking about
fission type. If you are referring to fusion and perhaps even ultra advanced miniature, I can see how all other sources of energy may become non-desirable. Until such a time, I see much value in using solar power- on Earth and in space.

"Same thing with the Moon and other dreams we have for space. I can see the Moon becoming a tourist stop in the distant future. I even believe humans will reach Mars in a century or so, and leave the Solar System a few thousand two years after that."

I see the Moon being a tourist stop in the near future. In distant future I see the Moon as a spaceport and major mining area.

"But if you can create a colony on the Moon, isn't it just as easy - even easier - to start one on Mars? And isn't Mars more attractive in terms of colonization than is the Moon?"

Whenever you think of Mars you are forced to think in terms of colonization- because of the huge distant required to get there from Earth and the limit of lightspeed. Whereas the Moon can be viewed as "something similar" to a oil platform in the north sea- with a oil platform you don't see it as colonization- though people are living in the the ocean, they aren't bringing the wife & kids, trying to grow food, etc.
The Moon will probably be like a California gold rush- they will go for the money, later you will get "colonization"- meaning families will be raised on the Moon, some people will grow food, build tourist location, etc.