I think it is the way it is because the plot demands it. AB and Iso have stated in the chat that hard science will not deviate the predefined plot in ways like this; and they came up with a whole host of reasons as to why Venus was terraformed and not Mars. namely, it's because Venus stayed out of the conflicts and had the resultant resources to fully terraform itself. 

Or something.

In other news: AB and Iso, can I do some world building on a few other bodies in the RP universe if they're separate from my faction/s? I want to make a moon (Possibly in Centurai or Sol) into a lawless, outlaw, renegade, wretched hive outpost. Think Tortuga or Tatooine. I think we could definitely make good use of a setting like that.