HaKatan, I understand completely where you coming from. About blockhead’s post, I found it in line with some valid opinions. He actually did not say that a “T” for “Saf” is correct, rather that such is just what happens to be used in some circles.
I agree that “T” is not accurate for the “Saf”, but neither is an “S”. Also, everything you’ve said about how certain Hebrew letters are closer to a specific English letter than another are all a matter of opinion, and all valid opinions. I happen to think that the proper sound of the “Saf”, which is a “TH”, is not any closer to an “S” than a “T”. It would appear to me that it’s actually closer to a “T”, since a “Saf” with a dagesh is a “Taf”, which is definitely a “T”, and not an “S”, and the dagesh is there to strengthen the sound of the letter.
And yes, the Sefardim do have an issue with cholom, as well as kamatz, and don’t pronounce them accurately. So every sect has some things that are more accurate than others.
With the Spanish “J”, again, I don’t think it is any closer to a “Chof” than a “Hey”, and therefore, the “Ches” is simply in between, and writing is as a “CH” is no more correct than writing it with a “H”. It should actually be written as a “J” with a footnote that says “Spanish pronunciation”, if you really want to do it right.
I agree that most pronunciations of the Ashkenaz are very close, but the Ashkenaz seem to have most of their issues with stressing the correct syllable of words. The Sefardim are much more accurate with that.