Another question: One of the conditions for the Sherpas to assist John Hunt's team was that the Sherpa would be part of the first assault team to reach the summit. Why is it that Tenzing and Edmund were chosen to go second? This seems to me that the agreement was dishonoured.
The level of technology to climb Everest was state of the art. No one climbed Everest without oxygen for decades after Hillary and Norgay, and even now is seldom done. Before it was finally done, many thought it was impossible. The clothing, the ladders, the equipment--all advanced. The Sherpa didn't have expertise in these kinds of things, nor easy access to them, back at that time. Everest ascents are also very expensive.
Besides all of the above obstacles, some Sherpa felt it was disrespectful to the mountain to climb it, too. So there was never a push to think of climbing it as a desirable goal or anything that would be appropriate, or that would be an honor to the mountain.