* Cuneiform was a syllabic script, while the Phoenician alphabet was alphabetic. This means that cuneiform represented syllables (like "ba", "ka", "tu"), while the Phoenician alphabet represented individual sounds (like "b", "k", "t").
* Cuneiform was developed in Mesopotamia, while the Phoenicians were based in the Levant. They had their own distinct cultural and linguistic traditions, and adopted an alphabet that was more suited to their language and needs.
* Cuneiform was a complex script with a large number of signs. The Phoenician alphabet, by contrast, was much simpler, with only 22 letters. This made it easier to learn and write.
In essence, the Phoenicians developed their own writing system, which was more efficient and effective for their language and culture than cuneiform. They are credited with developing the first true alphabet, which was then adopted and adapted by many other cultures, including the Greeks, Romans, and ultimately, the vast majority of writing systems we use today.