I came across this article today: Tabbed Navigation and What Makes it Useful, and I really think it provides some great insights about tabbed navigation. This style of navigation is popular because it works, and it works because it's using a method that most people are familiar with - file folder tabs.
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This is great!
Actually not a bad article, but what seems to have been missed is how this form of navigation has become so prevalent. Tabs have only come about since the widespread adoption of CSS, if you go any of the shown sites the navigation underneath is list based and floated list items are essential for this effect, creating both accessible navigation and the ability to creatively design the default site layout in one single motion. It’s not just simple for the user but for the developer as well.