The research Tabata did that everyone cites as to why his protocols are so great are a lot like those studies that look at is 3 sets of strength work better than 1 set. The answer is obviously yes 3 sets are obviously better than 1 set, but that doesn't mean you should go out and do 3 sets of everything just because the studies showed doing 3 is better than 1.
The 20 seconds work, 10 seconds rest protocol Tabata used is definitely better than the moderate intensity protocol it was compared against, but it does not mean that's the end all be all interval and should be used for everything. Also, the protocol was done with 100% intensity using a bike, but now people are using it with strength training, plyometrics, and just about everything in between, and most often times using much less than 100% intensity.
In the end, it's a decent protocol for improving aerobic development because most people will end up averaging slightly above their anaerobic threshold. but it's been made out to be far more than it actually is. 4 minutes is also not nearly enough volume for most well qualified athletes to see much improvement. There are a lot of different protocols that are great for improving aerobic, anaerobic, and alactic development, there is nothing special about Tabatas that means they are the only type of interval that should be used.
The reality is that conditioning should be individual and heart rate specific anyway, there is no set protocol that works all the time for everyone. See the post I wrote on how to solve your conditioing problem for more detailed info on this.
