It's logically the same thing. In both cases you have the same amount of cash and the same ownership of the company (although, you do have to pay a transaction fee to sell shares).
If you think there is something wrong with stock buybacks that is not also wrong about dividends, you are simply confused.
With a dividend, while you take a tax hit for the dividend, your cost basis is adjusted accordingly (so you don't take a capital gains event) which is important if you have a losing position (you are only allowed to take a certain amount of loss in your tax return under certain circumstances, making the buyback unpalatable in the context of a larger return with other sources of capital loss)
Try to do your own taxes this year. It's a learning experience.