Mars is different because it has a lot of resources, a lot of empty land, it has easier access to space than Earth due to the reduced gravity, and space is real

Mars is different because it has a lot of resources, a lot of empty land, it has easier access to space than Earth due to the reduced gravity, and space is really big. Maybe in the long run we'll be able to house more people in the asteroid belt than we do on Earth now. If it happens it'll be pretty far in the future, but it might happen eventually. Mars is a very convenient waystation to make that possible.