Robert, the perspective that you have put upon is may be yours or of most of the people that you have been around with lately. It does not take much time to give up the ego. Just that people have to understand that they have to give it up. We all are same eternal beings, just the awareness level is different, depending on what we choose to live in. Once people get aware of what they really are, they automatically give up what is to be given up. The thing is as much possible as it is impossible. :) I hope you are getting me.

For some people, when we explain that you don't have to give up you have to accept that you are a higher being, the eliminating of self-ego becomes easier. What i believe is everything is a matter of choice, the choice of circumstances and the time-plane we choose to live in.

I don't think you can eliminate it, not you yourself that is. Besides, nothing is permanent, so one day, that will die, too. So.. it's not possible for it to survive anyways. Or anything for that matter.

I think it's okay to have an ego. It's more about "identifying less" with it. I believe it's more like a tool, just like a sword. Ego might be handy to come in when the situation requires you to be assertive. However, at the end of the day, you'll draw back in that "sword" or ego. You wouldn't want to identify with that sword would you? You know you're not that sword right? Amazing as it is, cutting things, shiny, perfect, ninjas and samurais, and all, you know it'll disappear one day (rust and all). Same with ego. If you identify with that ONE sword, you'll probably scream at how you should be letting it go because it has past its prime. You can, just like your question, you can let go of ego. Thus, you've become a swordmaster who can pick whichever sword you want, any tool you want. Hope it helps!