re: Not much cheaper than a Space Shuttle launch
"What happens to the ATV when the ISS is done with it? Don't tell me
they dump it into the ocean? Why not make it an addition to the
station, or how about Europe starts turning them into their own station?"
ATV can dock to only one port on the ATV. To have another ATV dock, that first ATV must undock. And yes, they're dumping them in the ocean like Progress vehicles. They're not designed for long duration flight. Same six-month life cycle as Progress and Soyuz.
Doug