I didn't mean to imply that I could have done better
the "cheapness" is from NASA management, limiting the budget for these "Scout" missions. The Phoenix people did a good job, within the constraints placed on them.
$400 million isn't a whole lot of money, in the space game. It's interesting when you get inside the space industry and find that it's mostly just ordinary Joe's doing their job. There aren't very many "Rocket Scientists" there. These days it's a big industry with a lot of management and QC levels.