> The stroke-based methods aren't so arbitrary - they are based on the way you write.
Indeed, they are not arbitrary.
The very invention of them is meant to create something much more meaningful to the users as alternative to the telegraph code and alike, which is nothing more than a bunch of numbers. But I say "arbitrary", in the sense that the classification and organization of strokes in the system is selected artificially by the designers, not something inherently exists in the language and understood by the speakers, difficulties are overcame once you are familiar to the system. But extensive effort is needed for a new user to master the system.
Indeed, they are not arbitrary.
The very invention of them is meant to create something much more meaningful to the users as alternative to the telegraph code and alike, which is nothing more than a bunch of numbers. But I say "arbitrary", in the sense that the classification and organization of strokes in the system is selected artificially by the designers, not something inherently exists in the language and understood by the speakers, difficulties are overcame once you are familiar to the system. But extensive effort is needed for a new user to master the system.