When Chinese people learn Kanji, they learn them considerably quicker than Western people. Why is this? Well, as you're aware China also uses Kanji! The core meaning remains the same the readings are what differ.

So these Chinese students, when learning Kanji, all they have to do is attach a new sound to the Kanji and for the most part they're done. For you however, when you learn a Kanji you need to learn the form, the meaning, and the readings.

You're attempting to learn 3 new meaning bearing items at once. Very difficult! So the whole point of RTK, and this whole learn the Kanji with the English meaning but no reading first, is to basically get you to methodically learn them. It's very much a snowball effect, you will not see immediate short term goals but the longer you study for the more you will see the benefit of this method. Later down the line when people are trying to learn new Kanji and you already have their form and meaning in your head, you will be able to work out a new vocabulary and look up the word and simply need to remember the reading. Others will have no ability to infer, they will need to start to memorise the form, the meaning and the readings....

So, I don't blame you for completely misunderstanding what it is you're doing by learning form and meaning first, it's never directly told to you. However do not allow yourself to believe it's not incredibly useful, because it is, just later down the road is all. The point is, this is a tool to help you more firmly remember things. RTK works, plenty of people can evidence this, but that doesn't mean it will work for you. It is however always best to understand what it is RTK is doing or aiming to do, otherwise you will feel as you feel, as if it is pointless. RTK is helping you recognise a bunch of totally foreign squiggles so when you come to learn them, all you have to do is attach a sound to it. This is why it's recommended you do it before you 'study' Japanese, really they mean before you start acquiring substantial vocabulary.