re: Nukes on Mars
I also have no idea why there isn't some mechanism for removing the dust from the photovoltaics. I remember seeing plans for some kind of electrostatic repulsion device, back when these rovers were in the very early planning stages. I wonder what happened to it? In any case, the dust-devil alley that Spirit landed in may actually help with this: if the dust-devils have scoured off the rocks, why wouldn't they do so for the photovoltaics as well? Is it anywhere near dust-devil season on that part of Mars?
But agreed, RTGs would be wonderful on a rover...
Cheers,
Nathan.