TAB is very useful.
Not for me but many TAB is also the world. In the alt. world of "famous" UTUB shredders who can't play along with other folk is, seemingly, based on it.
I have a relative who seemed like a decent player but remove him from a song he'd learnt by TAB and he was lost. He gave up playing when it became clear that there was more to playing & being in a band than the note for note stuff, (he also sat his matriculation guitar practical exam whilst out of tune. He didn't notice but the panel did).
I've heard, (I uncertain, as the classical players I know write & record stuff for themselves when not rehearsing for their work), that some classical players can't function without their manuscripts but, then again, they've been trained to play the dotes and occasionally look at the conductor. They do what is required for their work...seems reasonable to me.

Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe