That's not what I heard from many scientists associated with Martian exploration. Matt Golembeck (know who he uis?) stated a human geologist could have done sojourners work in 10 minutes long before VSE. Carol Stokely has done robotic AI experiments showing humans would be far better at detecting fossils than a robot long before VSE. Do you have a comment from Squyres stating disdain for manned missions before VSE? I haven't heard anything like your claim of rover scientists being against human explorationn. Please provide a link or reference backing up youtr claim.

There is no question that robotic missions are critical and that they are valuable human precursor missions were humans can go. They can also go where humans cannot and do things humans can not. In assessing what any scientists says on the issue you need to look at his field. If it is one where only robots can can go or do best then of course he's going to poopoo human exploration becuase its a direct funding conflict with his field. Humans or robots is a false arguement. Space exploration needs both and funding needs to be balanced to maintain both at a rigorous level.