The Rovers have hubcaps, the Shuttle has make-work features too, but the cheaper Soyuz succeeds the most...
Bigger isn't necessarily better, as the Shuttle vs. Soyuz debate demonstrates. Meanwhile, the more parts that there are, the more work there is that's made for pork-seeking congressional districts but complicated machines can fail more often than more simple ones. The Russians haven't lost a life in space in over 3 decades, but the complex Shuttle porkers can't say the same. Besides, we've got a record high $43 trillion dollar national debt (that's merely $6.5 trillion if social security and medicare obligations are peculiarly forgotten about). NASA could easily offer competitive prizes, as it has recently been authorized to do. Why not offer them regarding Mars?
http://www.spaceprojects.com/prizes