I created a demonstration video to show what I mean for my question.

I'm using the 8.2 controls in this video. As you notice from the start of the video everything is looking normal and appears to work, but when you start unpinning the docked panels the tabs will disappear and only show the last used panel as a tab. If you run your mouse over that bar area where the tabs are, the other tabs will appear as a mouse hovers over.