You are entitled to believe what you want. If we didn't go there, then why didn't Russia or China call our bluff and demand proof. Why are they spending all that money studying the planets, moons and outer space, like we are doing? Besides, if we didn't go there, then why did we do it so many times? Once would have been enough it it had been faked. If you don't believe that we went to the moon, how can you believe that we sent a robot. It would be just as easy to fake that too. It is obvious that you have no concept of the problems of keeping humans alive on the moon long enough to build your idea of a launch pad.
Why build a launch pad on the moon along with all the necessary hardware to support life when we could just build it in space and not have to go to the expense and effort of launching off the moon.
The space station and the return to the moon is necessary to work out the problems and difficulties encountered in living in a vacuum and protecting the human body against the radiation from the sun. Of course, you probably don't believe this either.
If you think that all we need to do is to put people on a space ship and send them to Mars, why don't you volunteer to go now before they waste all that money making sure you would get there and back safely.