You never saw this kind of play before because runners have always tried to "take out" the fielder with the slide itself, so they weren't using their hands. If a runner slid into the base as Jose did, it wouldn't have made sense before this season but he'd have still been called for interference because you can't grab guys with your hands as they are throwing and that's always been the case.
It's tough to swallow and I denied it for awhile but it was totally the correct call, which sucks. Give the umps credit for having the balls to end a game that way.
E: Also doesn't help while listening to Tabler and Buck. I watched it again on the Rays feed and it changed my perspective. Dewayne Staats and Brian Anderson are good at their jobs.