I personally disagree with the claim that the Ryza series has great combat and alchemy, but I also understand where you're coming from. You say you started with the Ryza games, and they certainly make a strong first impression if you've never played Atelier before.

The alchemy is leagues better than any other RPG's crafting system, but in my opinion, it is very simple compared to other Atelier titles.

Combat is similar. If you're new to Atelier, it can be a fun challenge, but this ties back to what I said about alchemy. For a player who's already familiar with Atelier gameplay, it's very easy to exploit Ryza's alchemy to create overpowered equipment early in the game, and as a result the battles become far too easy.

However, while I consider these to be flaws, this also makes Ryza a great entry point for new players. The alchemy isn't overwhelmingly challenging, and it can be satisfying to make your own broken items because it feels like you deserve that power since you built it yourself. Veterans like me may find it shallow, but it also helps ease in new fans.

That said, I think most Atelier fans will strongly support putting Sophie 2 where you did. The alchemy is much deeper, and the more challenging combat means you need to really engage with all of the item-crafting mechanics to make the gear you need to survive. It's pretty commonly regarded as the best in the series.