I quit reading it when there was an audience cheering the protagonist on for knowing facts about 80s video games, it just made me super embarrassed, in the same way I used to get when I’d watch the show Doug and he’d talk to Patti Mayonnaise, or literally any scene of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

The difference is the evocation of that embarrassment was intended by the authors of the latter two.

I agree. The whole time I was reading the book I was thinking "I'd probably enjoy this more as movie" and I was right (although only a bit, still didn't care much for the movie). Name dropping a bunch of references for references sake is more effective when you can see them.

Also it seemed clear to me that some chapters only existed to provide notes to a future movie production, and didn't need to be infodumped. (One chapter in particular the only thing that actually happened was he was sitting in class and letting his mind wander, IIRC, and did nothing to drive the plot forward, just infodump).

You aren't alone. It was completely saccharine and the only reason I got through it was it was an audiobook and I had a long commute at the time.

In retrospect rereading/listening to something like Cryptonomicon or Hyperion Cantos for the umpteenth time would have been much more enjoyable.