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I really like the Atlas V re-usability proposal: http://www.ulalaunch.com/uploads/docs/Published_Papers/Evolu...

After stage separation, it detach the entire engine block (where most of the cost is), and a helicopter captures the parachute mid-flight! (See figure 2 from the PDF)



The issue with this though is it goes most of the way back to the STS; i.e. multi-month turn around instead of days/weeks. It saves manufacturing time and materials costs (not entirely due to fatigue checking etc), but does little for integration and turn around costs.




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