I don't see how egos actually fit into this. Key only wants KyoAni to do it and KyoAni aren't going to overproduce themselves. If anyone of them 'lowers their egos' so to say, they run a risk that they don't want to take. (Key working with a new business partner that's someone other than KyoAni and/or KyoAni not being able to keep up with the workload). It seems like it was just bad timing imo.
But whatever, we already have a thread for this trail of thought anyway lol
http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=108559