I think you’re using ego in the psychological sense as well as in the popular sense? Ego in the psychological sense is more neutral, in the popular sense it is more negative, suggesting self-absorption at minimum, unbridled arrogance at worst. (Someone correct me if I’m wrong.)

Ego in psychology is one’s self-identity, it includes our conscious processes, so without it where would we be? (Again, feel free to correct.) But having an identity means we can be hurt.

So hurt feelings stem from something that threatens your sense of self? Say you get stood up by a date, you feel unattractive, unimportant, worthless. That’s the ego feeling bruised. I don’t think that means having an ego is negative thing; ideally it would adjust to the slight by recognizing the independent jerkiness of others doesn’t threaten our own senses of self.