Get back to me if you ever want to play in a groovy modern Jazz unit, or big band, or theatre pit, or.....I can go on but probably dont need to.
But sure, you can learn the easy pop stuff by ear no probs .... been doing it for ever, but a lot of musicians whilst busking the tricky styles etc will have learnt the stuff off the page.....It's quicker and just plain more sensible and fun too and also improives ur chops because of the accuracy needed.
As I said to that other bloke.. Just trying to pass on some age old wisdom even if its deemed "sad" for doing so.