Quote 28
Items in the OASIS had just as much value as things in the real world. (2.4)
This is another incentive to hunt for Halliday's egg. Even if you don't win the grand prize, the odds are good that you'll find a rare artifact, which can be sold for real dough. Well that's handy.
Quote 29
Over the years, a friendly rivalry had gradually developed between [Wade and Aech]. (3.10)
The competition aspect of their friendship is most likely what holds these two together. Here's hoping it continues to do so when they're back in the real world and there are no Easter eggs to be hunted.
Quote 30
I didn't want to ask [Aech] for his help. If I couldn't reach the tomb on my own, I didn't deserve to reach it at all. (7.34)
Wade competes not only with Aech, but with himself, driving himself to do things on his own. There's a subtle hint in this sentence that asking Aech for help would mean Wade would have to reveal information that only he's privileged to, something he isn't willing to do at this early, highly competitive stage of the game.