[eleveriven]

In some ways the more interesting question might become whether Martian life, if found, shares the same basic biochemistry as Earth life

[pfdietz]

That is the question, yes. But if lithopanspermia is a thing, we don't need to go to Mars to investigate that question: we can look for this variant biochemistry life right here on Earth. This sounds to me like a valuable and economical research effort.