....
Who knows, maybe they could even find something valuable...
The single overriding thing of value in space exploration is developing the means, strategy and tactics of asteroid defense.
The survival or loss of humanity's advanced civilization rests on this. Think in terms of life after 1500 meter high tsunami, created by a random one of 200,000 asteroids hitting the ocean.
Space x could very well help in that aspect as well dude. Who knows. And i think world governments and nasa are already serious in developing asteroid collition plans, how to prevent, minimize damage or contingency plans in case a direct hit is inevitable. It is more important and mat have actual application than a plan for mars coonization.
No, they really are not serious. Neither the governments or SpaceX.
For example there is a predicted large asteroid impact in 2104 that can be prevented. But the application of kinetic energy to this threat in 2020 can be done with three orders of magnitude less energy than later in the century.
Is the 2020 opportunity going to be used? Nope.