re: Colonization is not only about the other world but also about who goes there
Of course, there's nobody to overwhelm, up there, but colonizing is not just about the colonized but also about the colonizer. With all the shortfalls following human interests. Can they make a profit? Yes? Let's bring people, quickly....Then, very fast, the resources vanish and it's time to move on! But what about all those people ? Are they staying? Returning back? (with bodies not used to 1 G anymore?)
Exploration at least, doesn't have those issues.