Mars is also a fascinating world, and the probes we've sent havn't finished the job of exploring it by a long way. I think mars gets too much attention, and the outer planets and their moons deserve to be a much higher priority, but to skip mars entirely when we've learned so much would be criminal.

I think a lot of the problem is the perception that mars is a nearby place to look for signs of life, or clues to how it started. I disagree, places like europa, titan, (perhaps) enceladus are much more promising, but the search for life isn't the only game in town. Geology, inorganic chemistry, environmental studies, meterology these are all compelling fields in their own right and remain just as interesting whether mars ever haboured life or not!

Ahem.... ok end of rant