Why is 'abuse of notation' tolerated? I've personally tripped up on a few concepts that came down to an abuse of notation, and I've read of plenty more on stack exchange.  It seems to all be forgiven with a wave of the hand.  Why do we tolerate it at all?

I understand if later on in one's studies if things are assumed to be in place, but there are plenty of textbooks out there assuming certain things are known before teaching them.  This is a very soft question, but I think it ought to be asked.
I doubt I could put it better than this:


  "The student of mathematics has to develop a tolerance for ambiguity. Pedantry can be the enemy of insight." - Gila Hanna


I also highly recommend Terence Tao's article describing the "pre-rigorous", "rigorous", and "post-rigorous" stages of a mathematician's development.
I believe it was proper mathematical notation that have birth to my love of mathematics, and I all now a mathematics professor. Also, may we be reminded that mathematics is a language, the most concise language today is truly universal.