AutoCAD Inventor :: How To Incorporate NextEngine 3D Laser Scans

I use a NextEngine 3d laser scanner to create organic models. The process is relatively simple assuming you just buy the software that NextEngine supplies (for $995). For this price you get an "auto surfacing" feature and export to STEP or IGES.  For me it is hard to rationalize spending that money just for those features, although, auto surfacing makes the process very simple to get a solid into Inventor. 

Since I already have Inventor 11 and AutoCad Mechanical 2011, I am hoping there is a way to get the scanned data into Inventor as a solid to edit parts etc, without spending the $995.  If I do spend the money, I would like more functionality from the software.  I am also looking into Rhino 4 as a possible solution with more functionality for a similar price. I have all the open source programs like meshlab, and blender and they work somewhat. 

The Nextengine creates a Point Cloud which can be exported as an .obj or an .STL (which comes in handy for 3d Printing).  I use a 3rd party program to import .stl files into inventor.  They are imported as a mesh and the "Stitch" command does not work unless you have surfaces (as far as i know). How can I create a surface from a mesh with my existing software?  

GOAL: create a surface from mesh data (obj or stl), convert to solid, and edit in Inventor.