What I don't like with Matrix is the load it puts on the server. It basically copies 100% of a room content to any server having one or more users registered in the room.
So if you're on a small server, and one user decides to join a 10k+ large room, your server may collapse under the load as it tries to stay in sync with the room's activity. This is deterrent to self-hosting or family/club/small party servers.
XMPP, on the other hand, has proven to be highly scalable, has E2EE, federation and some bridging services.
The only thing XMPP does NOT have is a single reference multiplatform client with all basic features for 2023 (1:1 chat, chat rooms, voice/video 1:1, and voice/video conference) than anyone can use without wondering if the features-set is the same as the persons you're talking to.
And while we're there: I'm not even sure I want a messaging account linked to any of my Fediverse accounts...
French here. If you learn in Belgium or Switzerland, they have "septante" and "nonante" for 70 and 90.
It's for sure more intuitive, but you have to admit that saying "four-twenty-twelve" (non-french speakers: that's literal translation for 92) is sooooo cool!