English is a very complicated language. The spelling of the language makes little sense to people who do not have it as a first language, and then, sometimes it makes little sense to people who do.

Through=oo sound
Bough=ow sound
Though=o sound
Tough=uff sound
Thought=aw sound

I think there are about a dozen ways to make the 'ee' sound, and we still can't agree on how to pronounce the letter Z.

Usage problems are many and varied. As you gents have pointed out, many of the battles are lost. Four hundred years ago telling a lady her hair was 'awful' was a nice compliment because it meant 'so beautiful it fills one with awe'. Today . . . .