The iOS 16.1 beta showed Apple working toward Matter support in October 2022, though 9to5Mac reported that the visible Settings interface had been removed from beta 3. I took the underlying support as progress, not proof every existing device would work on launch day.
What I wanted from Matter was less setup friction: one bulb or switch joining the home system without checking three compatibility logos. Software support in a beta was the first step. Certified devices, reliable pairing, and updates for products people already owned were the test.