[dilemma]

>What I am saying is that in English, after learning 26 letters, you can read any combination of them.

No. After learning 26 letters you're no better off than before. You can't read, because you don't know the meaning of the words. Vocabulary is learnt separately from the writing system, unlike in Chinese or Japanese. On the other hand, with 26 kanji, you'd be able to read and write, but not necessarily speak.

Neither system is better - they're different.