The loss of such an explorer would be a mere set-back, versus a tragedy for the program. This robotic pathfinder would also be able to send back data which would help us determine if the risks and cost of a manned mission to a celestial body would be worth the investments of time, money and human life. Are we developing robotic technology to the point where the exploration of our solar system, and our neighboring stellar systems might become a reality. I believe that most people agree that robotic exploration is a necessary precursor to human exploration. However, I don't believe that robotics will ever take the place of human exploration.
Humans have an incredibly high intelligence to mass ratio.
The unknown glint on the horizon may go unnoticed by the robot but may be seen by the human who then follows the lead. I often point out that the stated purpose of the Viking lander in the 1970s was to determine if life existed on Mars. The experimental results were inconclusive. We still do not know the answer. But if a human had been on the mission, we would have altered the experiments on site and found the answer then.