I think most experts were surprised that we failed to even detect predicted levels of meteoritic organics on Mars. This appears to hold true for the surface regolith at Phoenix, affirming what most Mars experts agree on - that the harsh chemistry at the surface breaks down organic compounds. Mission scientists are hoping that we will detect organics preserved in the permafrost beneath the surface.

From what I understand, the prevailing scientific consensus has been that the martian surface has been oxidized of its abiotic organics and that if they are there we will find them beneath the surface. So far, data from Phoenix has sustained that consensus, we've yet to detect organics there. To the best of my mind, I believe that most Mars experts have kept an open mind on the possibliity of finding organics beneath the surface even as they agree that Viking did not find life.