Nick, I think there's a political factor that has to have some control over the choice of target sites. Remember that the budget of our entire space program is a Congressional vote away from oblivion at all times. This was a "wow" shot, one that will be on Powerpoint presentations in the committees in Congress and in decision maker board rooms. These guys that control the purse strings and the public in general from time to time have to be shown the big picture, the grand spectacle. That shot of the crater and the rover has been showing on nightly news shows recently after the Mars programs had virtually disappeared from the public airways.

Look at the Mars forums and the buzz that's been created by showing off the incredible capabilities of this new spacecraft. Remember, there will be lots of shots and data returns of scientifically uninteresting areas by MRO simply to ensure the cameras and instruments are calibrated properly in these early days. Why not use an area dear to many Mars devotees as one of those test sites? Although I sympathize with your rationalization, I think you're in the minority here to be down about this decision.

Art