It depends on whether or not the Moon can be useful in Martian exploration/colonization. If it can be established as a fuel depot, then we should absolutely go back. IMO we shouldn't go to the Moon or Mars unless we're planning on staying. If we are not planning on staying, then we should just send unmanned probes.
There's a lot of things that can't be known by sending unmanned probes. But I agree with you're point I suppose. The 50 billion, ten year deal NASA proposed was to build a base on the moon AND Mars for research.
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