: What about the idea of perhaps a form of stabilization node at geo-sync
: height; no extra 'weight' to either end, and propulsion to help keep the
: tether straight, and if things sway or bend or stretch to far either way,
: it can vertical adjust to retain its height (also removing additional
: stress at either end).
: *shrug* I'm sure it's been considered :) (or thrown out because it's a
: ridiculous idea anyway :P)

The weight of all the material below geo-stationary orbit would pull the entire structure back to earth quite rapidly. That's why the theoretical counterbalance is well outside geostationary orbit.