Very fascinating reply - reading it, I am reminded of the notion of Satori, or instant enlightenment. Unfortunately I know next to nothing about Zen or Chan Buddhism and thus am ill-equipped to comment on those traditions, but I recall this exact question being posed to Kamalashila, an ancient professor of the Indo-Tibetan Mahayana, in what is known as the 'Samye Debate.' I suggest you take a look at what their conclusion was!

As for my unenlightened opinion and personal experience, I realize that 'effort' is a trap from reading Osho quite extensively. Unfortunately my mindstream is not evolved enough to take the leap into pure exploration and I have a ton of unskillful karmic egoic baggage, as most people do. This is why I would consider a more skillful use and skillful evolution and skillful calibration of ego much more useful than an abandonment and transcendence of it, at least for my current stage of evolution.

I am certainly afraid of going outside of my comfort zone! I first experienced this when I spontaneously entered meditative states as a child, and realized that they could really transform me for all time with just micro-moments of higher perspective. This naturally made me withdraw from them in fear (society would think I was crazy), and it's this discomfort that I seek to address directly; so that transformation is actually supported by all the "lower" "egoic" causes within my being; rather than held back by them. This is how Buddhas are said to be produced anyways - from lifetimes worth of "effort" cultivating the six perfections.

Not sure if I even properly addressed your reply, but I appreciate the response - it is always humbling to see how my insight isn't nearly as transcendental as it should be.