The very high-level view is that Matrix is a set of protocols for syncing messages and state between servers. Matrix is to XMPP what NNTP is to SMTP. This makes multi-device and disconnections much easier to handle, because all you need to do is to wait for the messages to eventually arrive; this is in contrast to XMPP which favors direct routing of a message and synchronization is second.
In my own view it's a much more robust way of architecting communication: the server(s) should assume that remote parties will be off, and remote parties will come and get what they want at their own pace and time. Maybe they won't receive a few messages immediately but can immediately retrieve multiple when needed. With a stretch you could see a parallel with Kafka: instead of trying to send stuff to consumers as soon as it is produced, just store it, and when clients are up they'll process stuff.
I agree. One could use the Matrix specs to build some sort of message queue (using rooms) where human (text, markdown) and machine (json-ld) could communicate and interact..
In my own view it's a much more robust way of architecting communication: the server(s) should assume that remote parties will be off, and remote parties will come and get what they want at their own pace and time. Maybe they won't receive a few messages immediately but can immediately retrieve multiple when needed. With a stretch you could see a parallel with Kafka: instead of trying to send stuff to consumers as soon as it is produced, just store it, and when clients are up they'll process stuff.