When I discovered GuitarPro, it was a near total conversation to it for learning songs, especially when they become intensely complicated (Dream Theater) and I need to listen to it several times in different speeds to truly understand it.
Basically, it splits into two different categories for when I want to learn a song. If I want to do it quick and easily for the sake of learning how to play it, then I'll use GuitarPro. But if I want a challenge, something I can be a bit more proud I figured out how to do, I'll use text tabs. And to be even more proud I would resort to learning by ear, but for the more complicated things I don't like doing that in fear I'll learn something wrong and it's treacherous to unlearn something that you've programmed into your fingers.