Value of the Innermost Planet

Mercury is one of the most inhospitable places in the solar system. As the planet nearest the sun, it receives several times more insolation than Earth. In low latitudes, particularly, daytime temperatures are broiling hot. Without a blanket of air to retain the heat, however, nights are bitterly cold.
The innermost planet may figure prominently in the future, however. It has two valuable assets--ample water at its poles, and abundant he-3 for fusion.
The high latitudes of Mercury are not terribly hot, because the planet's obliquity is near zero. It has no seasons. Near the poles, the sun is always low near the horizon. Crater floors tend to remain in perpetual darkness and ice is stable. Given moderate temperatures, and sufficient water, future colonies may thrive. No doubt, they'll derive most of their power from solar energy. Mercury is unrivaled for the quantity it receives. And as if solar power were insufficient, future colonists may derive enormous amounts of energy from he-3, a fuel for fusion reactors.
Someday, Mercury may be the powerhouse of the solar system. It may be possible to export mercurian energy to Venus, by beam, to provide power for terraforming efforts.