I don't disagree with anything that you said, but I think when Tannenbaum initiated the all or nothing strategy he probably knew he had a 4 or 5 year window before it would crash down upon him.
He was building that team around what was to be Bret Farve's final 3 or 4 years. When his elbow went when the Jets were 8-3, he knew he had to go to plan B. I don't remember who was a QB FA back in 2009, but clearly he thought his best chance lay at one of the top college QB's coming out that year. it was a stereotypical case of a guy playing in a stacked lineup against inferior competition week in and week out. So his bulk stats looked fine, but he rarely made more than one read, he was inconsistent at best on the occasions that he had to throw into tight spaces, and he didn't have standout athleticism or arm strength to set him apart. He was just fine at USC, but every year there are a half dozen prospects just as good as him who don't even get early-round consideration, let alone top of the first. I was ecstatic when the Jets drafted him.
In hindsight its easy to disparage the Sanchez pick, but at the time it was considered a decent pick. Also, we've seen ourselves games where Sanchez has played very well at times. You have to wonder that if he'd gone into the right system and had a year or 2 to mature, how Sanchez's career might have turned out. He's done OK in his first year with Chip, but he had 5 years of bad coaching to unlearn, so he might get better if he stays with Philly. OR it could be that Sanchez is nothing more than an above average back up.
Either way, the bulk of Tannenbaum's time as the GM 2008-20011 could be considered a high point of the Jet franchise since 1969. So like I said, he may not be an inspired choice, but better than most people perceive.
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