All true.
Lets not forget that flag and footprints missions have opened the door to Antartica. Why not space?
Ultimatly, the demand for a permenant manned presence on other planetary bodies such as Mars will 1st need to come form the scientific community. Of course if we were to find a solid platinum rock floating in space, that could change everything (and change the dynamics of the Earthly plantinum commodities market overnight).
The Universe is the limit.