I think it gets easier once you internalize that your destination filename is actually an option to -f. it's not tar czf (filename) (list of files). it's tar cz(f filename) list of files.
Ironically, I think it'd actually be more intuitive if we used the options fully; tar -c -f filename -z (list of files). But we end up memorizing shorthand before we know what it means, rather than after.
Ironically, I think it'd actually be more intuitive if we used the options fully; tar -c -f filename -z (list of files). But we end up memorizing shorthand before we know what it means, rather than after.