Among the least revered? You mean, below peanut butter and jelly in the same jar? If humanity is going to emerge out of the cradle, Mars will have to be the 2nd step. Right after Luna.

As we are out there exploring & homesteading, maybe we will realize what a gem the Earth truly is.

Gravity too low, too cold, weak sun, no air. Really, all Mars has is dirt, and that is corrosive. We could do much better building spinning cans to live in, out in orbit. Even Venus cloudtops would be a better place to camp than Mars.

Peanut butter reliably on the shelf certainly is a greater achievement than people on Mars would be, if we ever bother. When Elon quits hyping it, Mars will slip out of the collective consciousness.

How could first foot on an alien planet possibly not be a historic achievement?

The point is not and could never realistically be exports.

The point is to overcome the challenge and develop capability.

You can't learn how to live on another planet in silico

Until we've fully explored it, we actually can't know that.

Exploring Mars more means exploring other places less. Even means mitigating local environmental harm less.