The layout of tabular data lets the sighted user observe the row-column semantics. Layout and tabular data get kind of mashed together. Instead, use appropriate table markup, TH elements and headers attributes, summary attribute and caption element. The example of a form whose input elements are placed in a table with labels in the cells above is tabular data because row-column position carries meaning. Clearly tabular data is not restricted to numbers.
TV Listings have very few numbers.
The Form example is no less a table than the TV listings. The Form example is properly marked up if appropriate table markup is used. My bottom line is that when row-column position carries meaning, then linearization is not relevant. So labels above items would not linearize in any very usable fashion. This is not a problem with tables that present tabular information.