Comment by peter303

In the early days of computers some character systems were stroke-based because that used less memory than a 32x32 bit map. A kilobit of ROM (one character) could cost $10.

Currently stroke-based systems are used for calligraphic effect. You could generate new font types, e.g. bold., but controlling the shape of strokes.

Stroke systems are important for teaching character writing because the drawing order is rigorously prescribed. Once you learn the first couple hundred, you can pretty much guess future characters. Wrong order characters often look bad and suggest a non-Chinese speaker mis-copied them. (e.g. some tattoos)