Not sure if you updated your IDE since it was released with a TTabControl fix but please try this to confirm this as you don't indicate what OS you are on?
Start a new project:
Drop a TTabControl on the form from the Common Controls tab
Move it around a bit to make sure it's there and working.
Then delete it from the form.
Report if the IDE goes into a non-responsive state.
If it does, it's possible it may not be helping you much with your issue, also it's also possible that you had a bug all along and it only showed now.
Jamie