I concur.

(though, beaches, really? Give me mountains and forets any day.)

Personally, while I am not one who wants to actually go, I admire those who do. Its similar to the Moon-there were several Apollo missions and the terrain was a little less hospitable than Mars.
I think with Mars there is more to it than just what avatar posted, though I certainly understand his point of view. The point, I think, is the challenge of it, just like past explorers. Whether it makes rational, logical sense, it is still apart of humanity.

I don't think that the government should underwrite it completely. It will probably take a combination of private enterprise and public funds to create the project, develop the test parameters, training and technology to make it work. Yeah, it might take a little for-profit motivation, but that's not all bad. It motivated Columbus, Hudson, and several other explorers, for good or for ill.

I love this place.