The paradigm has shifted
while several of the manned Mars flight enthusiasts here at the HZ still carefully cherishthe erroneous view of an Earth-like Mars from the 1950's, the reason for returning to the Moon has changed: preserving life on Earth via CAPS.
Needed for developing the Moon, the tedhonology base for less expensive manned Mars filght will then be in place, including the base for new propulsion technologies
And despite the criticism from the manned Mars enthusiasts here in the US, my guess is that micro gravity will make possible the profitable production of new materials