Sheet music notation actually works very well at conveying what it needs to. Transposing instruments are a bit of an annoyance if you need to read, e.g. a full

Sheet music notation actually works very well at conveying what it needs to. Transposing instruments are a bit of an annoyance if you need to read, e.g. a full score, but they come with the huge advantage for the player of working a bit like guitar tabs - the note position tells you instantly how to play it, no matter how the instrument is pitched. It is a good compromise.