If that were the case tabs would be fixed width too. But they're not. There's no fundamental reason tabs have to be the only variable-width character.

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eikenberry a day ago | parent [-]

Tabs would only be variable in the number of spaces uses, but those spaces will be fixed width.

	▲	jononor 11 hours ago \| parent [-]
		And spaces could be variable in the number of "sub-spaces" used. Each could be say 1/8 of a regular space.