[rbanffy]

> wouldn't it still be easier to live here than on mars?

Maybe. What if it's an artificial plague? What if any other number of catastrophic events cause the collapse of the civilization here?

Having multiple settlements elsewhere is insurance.

And, while Mars is one interesting place, there are other rocks we could easily settle and mine for resources. I don't think Mars should be the first we tackle (I'd go for the Moon first) but I'm perfectly fine with humans spreading all over the solar system.