What is the value of the ISS?

Let's not forget that NASA funded the development of the prototype
inflatable spacehab for use on the ISS. In their infinite bureaucratic
wisdom they abandoned the project when they ran out of money for all the
various projects they were supporting and they had to prioritize. They
did have the good sense, though, to license the technology to Bigelow.
This is one example of how the work of NASA has helped to "prime the
pump".