[Taso]

Gotta disagree with you there Shoelace - you were able to "sit down...playing whatever came into your head..., etc" not because you stopped reading tab, but because you had gotten better as a guitar player. Over time, this happens.

I, and many other players (ie: Eric Clapton/"name famous blues/jazz musician here") can let it flow without being able to read notation. I have a very basic level of reading ability.

Tab ain't bad - it's very practical for the guitar. The good thing about programs like Guitar Pro and Powertab is that they show you the notation too, as well as play what it's supposed to sound like.