ATMEL Mega1284P evaluation board avalible

Sure, can be programmed via ICSP, or via bitbang from FTDI to get a bootloader in, and then via USB for normal sketch after that.
Skyjumper has a lot of that worked out using the hacked Uno (see 'hacking the uno' where I modified an Uno to use a 644/1284 type chip, which was the prototype for the board above, and adapted to a more developmental type board for my use).
I aim to use this thing for something (no specific project in mind yet) so we'll have a way to program it for sure.