Not so much "ego fixation" - Edison truly WAS a douche. When Tesla started working for Edison, Edison told Tesla that he would pay him $5,000 if he could solve a problem dealing (if I remember correctly) with motors or electrical power distribution. Tesla arrived at the solution, got it working, and went to Edison for his reward. Edison told him "You just don't understand our American sense of humor" and didn't give Tesla a penny. Fuck Edison... cheap prick dishonest opportunist douche!