You still can't get rid of the Shorts tab, unfortunately.

As Google continues to ramp up pressure on ad blocking methods like browser extensions and VPNs, the cat-and-mouse game between the blockers and Mountain View has grown in breadth and complexity.

The problem is that you are greeted with Shorts as soon as you launch the Youtube app. As reported by Life Hacker, there is a way to block Shorts, but it requires a bit of thinking on the user's part.