Fair enough, and not arguing with your broader point. They didn't so much entirely remove ability modifiers as separate them from race.Thing is, Tasha's didn't "remove" ability modifiers it just made them entirely floating. So actually, some races (mountain dwarf and Half elf in particular) become even more attractive to optimizers not less. Tasha's changes the decision math it does not remove it.
Non optimizers will be happy because they can pick a race and not be subject to strict ability guidelines. Optimizers will be happy because they can optimize even further. People who don't care just take the default. In theory everybody wins. Also in theory the secondary characteristics of the races become that much more important in the decision process.
I am amused to notice, on thinking about it, that the system I use in my campaigns does the same thing, differently, because I wanted non-obvious race/class combinations to be ... as playable as obvious ones.