Anyone connected to Direct Edge can send an order flagged as HideNotSlide. Everyone is playing on an even field with respect to that order type.

HideNotSlide does not cause an order to "jump to the top of the order cue[sic]." It preserves your order entry time at a price that is contra the NBBO if there is not an order at Direct Edge at the NBBO (if there is an order at Direct Edge at the NBBO the incoming HideNotSlide order is filled).

I doubt "HFT" would be dramatically limited by a transaction tax. I believe that it would lower trading volume by some amount and widen the bid/ask by some amount. The number of "HFT" firms and their trading habits would look mostly the same though.