To show the tab I used to open the object from the search results, get the path from the object tab and then browse down the AD tree to open it from its location. Not fast, neither fun.
I accidently discovered another way to get the Attribute Editor to show, which is to open the properties of an object from another object. In other words, open the properties for a user by opening the properties from the members list of a group that the user is member of. This only works when the user is closed and opened from the group, so the workaround is:
1. Search the object you want to see properties for.
2. Open the member of tab and display properties for one of the groups that the user is member of. Try to pick a group with few members.
3. Close the properties for the user.
4. Open the properties for the user by double click the user name in the members list of the group you opened in the second step.
5. Taa-daaa. The Attribute Editor tab is shown!
Sound very complicated, but is way faster than browsing the user.
Remember that the Attribute Editor is only shown if the advanced features are enabled in ADUC (View -> Advanced Features).