Tab bar will be always visible. The fact that you have to ask means nothing, because you are one person. Decisions get made based on data, not anecdotes.
The fact that I have to ask means I have no way to predict which they consider "better". It could have just as easily gone the other way.
Personally I'm glad it's in the visible direction though.
An option should only be removed if the "better" way is obvious.
Which way I'd this one going to go? On or of? And the fact that I have to ask tells me that maybe they should not have removed the option.