Would that be because e.g. an alphabet or a language (notably English) is not a product with a solid reasoning behind it (like Esperanto is iirc) but an evolution? Like a cultural thing? There's no practical reason why certain combinations of letters in the English language are pronounced differently depending on the words, it's just a "that's how it is" thing which you have to just remember.
There are reasons, but historical rather than logical. I guess those reasons could be considered extra things to memorize as well (but for me they help).