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Any complex machine with moving parts that runs for two years without the touch of a human hand is, well, impressive. The article states that scientists thought that the Mars environment would be hard on the 'bots than it actually turned out to be, so they built 'em 'way tough. And that paid off.
Of course, the fact that the martian dust devils keep dust from building up on the 'bots' solar cells is blind luck, but I'll take it.
Frankly, 'bots do a better and cheaper job of exploring the solar system than men could, for the foreseeable future. More 'bots! More 'bots!
As for the engineering team getting a bonus -- probably not. But the bragging rights and resume cred will be priceless to their careers.
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