Ignatz,
Ah! Great thinking about the small pins on the side of the locking pin -- let's call these teeth, so we have a common terminology. The retracting teeth idea is brilliant!
For the sake of strength and link-up integrity, I'm thinking that there is no internal access to the pin tower from inside the ship. That would all be solid metal down there, running straight through the vessel.
The pin would be part of a simple but very robust system. Yes, it would need maintenance, but only occasionally. Local sensors would be in place to confirm that the seal is good. If there are any problems flagged, then someone suits up, and goes out to look. Any serious issue with the pin would generate a no-go alarm for the cruise,
itself. If the pin is bent/misaligned, or maybe a tooth doesn't retract or something, the cruise is scrubbed until the problem is fixed, or a replacement ship can be brought in. The pin is fundamental to the Tottenberg cargo transit system. If it's acting up, the ship goes nowhere.
Lighting, huh? What do you think of the idea of space on the fuel tanks being rented out as billboards, with spots or flood lights brightening them up? Or maybe they glow on their own? Or maybe it's a bad or cheesy idea to have adverts on a ship like this, would probably be targeting spacers, since average consumers wouldn't b likely to see it?
Maybe something like:
"Injured on the job? Space walk leave you crippled? Call the law offices of Hullen, Scole, Al'zuri, & Assoc. You deserve better than to be forgotten!"
Or...
"Autumn Breeze suit fragrance. The beauty of nature in your helmet!"
Or maybe...
"Mom's Home Cookin' all-you-can-eat buffet. Opal City Station, on the Hub!"
It's probably too early to think about that sort of finishing touch stuff right now, but it popped into my head, so I thought I'd share.
-David