well the idea that is built with modules should imply that we can swap out the pieces as they age and as the mission changes.<p>if anything the real reason to abandon the ISS is the same reason we needed to abandon the shuttle program. Nostalgic money pits tend to stick around preventing progress and investment in new and better systems.<p>I still think one of the best things to happen to NASA in the last ten plus years was having the shuttle program shut down. Yeah it lead to years with lack of capability but it was that shuttle which held back such development and others have stepped in.<p>I would prefer to get to the moon, having a solid surface under you would have some great benefits, let alone being able to dig deep and hide.