I'm wondering if we somehow read different articles.

"1. They wanted free stuff (water), and didn't get it."

Um... their water system failed, and Prospera hooked them up to their own water system, without informing them that they would be charged for this. Further, the entity doing the charging was calling itself a philanthropic foundation.

"This is why it might be easier to develop advanced human communities on Mars - no locals to worry about!"

I'm not going to make sweeping assumptions about you based on a single comment. However, this kind of phrasing makes it sound as if you believe peoples' wellbeing and autonomy are secondary to - or perhaps at odds with - profit.