So while I'm still on the subject, seems likely if you have gone to all
the trouble and expense to build a space elevator you'd design it so
that the masses are attached to the cable in such a way that
here are both anchor cable and transport cable. So the 'elevator' can
pass by the 'station platforms' on the way up. At the counter-weight
mass you might also have the cable to extend beyond with a slightly
smaller counter-weight to give you negative g. Perhaps on a separate
elevator with an 'upside-down' orientation!

So the 'elevator' would be designed more like a vertical train. In fact
it is probably wise to have multiple transport cable 'tracks'. Then you
can simultaneously have trains going up and down. There could be
separate cars on the train that could be unloaded at various
drop-off/platform stops along the cable. Thus you could have stops at
300miles, 500miles, 1000miles (oops! Van Allen Belt!!) etc. up to and
beyond geosynchronous orbit. The 'train' would need to travel fairly
fast if you want to get to anywhere above the Earth's atmosphere in any
'reasonable' amount of time. But the 'elevator' could travel at
different speeds at different points along its journey. With less air
resistance the higher up it is the faster it can go. I'm thinking
something along rail gun technology. Of course if you're willing to wait
months to get to your destination, you can go more slowly. So the cabs
have to be more like living habitats that move (imperceptibly).

Another feature not to be discounted are stops along the cable that
remain in the atmosphere. You could have observation stations in both
lower and upper troposphere, stratosphere and ionosphere. Something that
is exceedingly difficult to do today, even with balloons.

Dave