That's like saying, "it was only a matter of time someone figured out time traveling", when it happens. The whole point of the investigation was about chaotic systems, regardless of whether they're complex or not.
I'm not sure what point you're trying to make. Matrices only perform linear transformations, so matrices only approximate functions linearly, which in general, is a terrible approximation globally.
I mean, there might be a case where we will finally get to the point where we are just "good enough" at measuring the boundary conditions to predict weather for the next year, but it has got nothing to do with obtaining the knowledge about chaotic systems themselves.