[EricRobodox]

Its not really a rover, so there is no need for it not to be careful about a drive system. Airbags would be useful for that. But if its like my mission, Mars Science Laboratory, it may be too heavy for airbags to work. And thrusters allow it to land wherever it would like, rather than less predictability from the bouncing of the airbags. Many reasons probably why they did a thruster landing. Clean launch though, very cool.