Disable vertical tabs by content type or user role
There are few ways to do this:


You can use the Renderable Elements module (as you mentioned above). It enables you to register any piece of build on your installation and manage the display through Field UI. It will make (additional) elements available of existing entities on the manage forms/display screens or you can for example register the contact form and rearrange the fields through Field UI. Works currently fine on forms, support for other is coming in a second iteration.
Or add the following to your custom module:

$config['yourcontenttype_node_form'] = FALSE;
variable_set('vertical_tabs_forms', $config);

A sandbox module that disables vertical tabs


Here is this core issue that refers to this.