I learned to read music at an early age, and was, I suppose. to some extent dependent upon written music. I managed to learn long piano pieces for school concerts without the music in front of me after repeateldy playing it WITH the music - but that's learning by rote, not by ear.
Then about 12 years ago, I started on other instruments where learning by ear was more of the norm, although we might still be given the "dots" after the lesson was over.
I have to agree whole-heartedly that both skills (reading music, and playing by ear) are totally compatible, non-exclusive and complementary, and if you can do both you are "quids in".
Having read with some degree of horror, another thread on here, which initially sounded quite interesting, but rapidly degenerated into a slanging match, can I make a plea to get any petty arguments/personality clashes out of Mudcat forthwith!