Bass is not, repeat,NOTa guitar.

  huh? I was looking to buy a bass guitar and the sign at the music store clearly said Bass Guitars now that I know it's not a guitar I'm really confused.  Just kidding you some LOL

 I don't know for me it's just another guitar with big freakin strings and a diffrent job to do(simplified version).
 
 I'm not sure I agree with you on the tab thing. I teach guitar/music some and I think it's good to know both. I learn songs by sheet music,tab ,or ear. I'm trying to convey that to my students. To train yourself to understand all three, and check the music with the ear, cause sometimes we ain't always right (ear or music).