A reason to go to Mars (lugging ressources)

Since the subject of sports came up:

Yes, the whole idea of "they're all living in microgravity" needs
to be dropped. Nobody is proposing that. Well, OK, maybe Marshall
Savage, but nobody else. And even he admits that habitats CAN be
spun up to give the inhabitants weight.

Many of the supposed dangers of an orbital would apply equally to any
habitat on the surface of Mars, or the Moon. I can't think of any
reason a leak in the pressure shell wouldn't be as deadly on Mars as
it would be in orbit. I don't see why your Mars dome or underground
chamber is somehow immune to CO2 buildups that you're assuming would
be a constant danger to those in orbit. The need to control the
temperature doesn't vanish because you are on a planet.

Of course there will be adults checking out large, rotating living-
places before children are expected to live there. Ideally, that's
what those highly-trained individuals known as "astronauts" would be
doing: making it safe enough for ordinary adults, who make it safe
enough for children. I truly believe that most of what caused the
public to lose interest in NASA manned space flight was the dawning
realization that what the bold and courageous astronauts are doing
may be bold and courageous, but it isn't getting the rest of us in
space. Let it be clear that NASA is opening the High Frontier for
THE REST OF US, and watch public support grow.