Players relating Bruisers to Tanks.

You aren't far off.

And Riot too has on occasion called Bruiser's interchangeable to tanks.

See ZenonTheStoic explanation: http://forums.na.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=4194717

"Warwick can go either way, but if we want life steal to be a meaningful mechanic on his new kit, I firmly believe he belongs in the former camp: tanks."

Ask yourself do you think Warwick is a tank or a bruiser?

If you said both but it determines how he builds. Well then you just admitted Bruiser's are interchangeable with the name tanks.

We call Cho a tank. But he has a 1:1 Ratio ability, AoE damage and True damage Ult. Would you argue he can build AP Bruiser or is he only a tank?

Even with the Devourer we are still in a Tanky Meta?