the good thing is that --being robots-- they presumably wouldn't have the concept of impatience or boredom even if they had a soul. So we shouldn't worry about them feeling abandoned, just make sure we get there before they decay too much.

We must go to mars to save them. I don’t care if the endeavor is otherwise entirely pointless. Bring our boys home

Could not agree more :) I hope they bring all the rovers and landers home one day in the future