I/3 the gravity as well, so watch out for that bone density

I mean, I wouldn't call it "useless". There's almost certainly a benefit to the science and technology that can move people to Mars safely and transform it into a habitable place.

But "We're going to Mars!" as a mission is a fantasy. "We're going to keep investing in blue sky research until we have advanced enough technology to make Mars a feasible destination" is where the money is at.