I've been a musician for over 25 years. I can read sheet music, tabs, chord charts (including Jazz), and learn most stuff by ear. I still use tabs to learn new songs because it gives an idea of the fingerings, even if it's just a starting point. Tabs are a specific arrangement of a given piece that at least one person found to be playable. It cuts out unnecessary time considering "how" to play something.
If you gave me sheet music, I would come up with an arrangement and annotate it with tabs to specify.
It's important to develop your ear, don't get me wrong, but tabs are a useful tool even for professionals. They're not just for beginners.
I wasn't trying to call you out specifically, just that there are people who hate on tabs in general. If anything I'm agreeing with your rant against snobbery too