Yes, tablature was certainly helpful but has quite rightly been criticised for not including indications of timing, phrasing, etc. unless produced in tandem with actual notation. Plus, unless you persevered to decipher music notation, you never really learnt what notes you were actually playing, and progress to playing by ear. Chord sonbooks are even worse of course, as there is no indication of rhythm, timing, or even chord fingering/inversions.

I think the best way to learn was a combination of things, including yes watching other performers, like by getting a front row seat in the clubs, and even talking to them afterwards, as many accomplished players were quite happy to demonstrate things like guitar and banjo right hand technique. I know that happens at Festival workshops these days, but yes a lot of the YouTube tutors are simply teaching the wrong stuff in the wrong way - should anyone really be relying on advice from a tutor who says “not sure what it’s called, but you then hit this one, the fattest string, a couple of times…”? I couldn’t bear to watch the rest of that one….