You didn't quite mention "emergence" anywhere to now, but I believe emergence and pattern (structure) creation are phenomena inherent to all complex systems. In that sense I am with you on that randomly sampling the possible initial conditions of a discrete Markov chain and a continuous dynamical system, as described by equations in physics, can very well yield emergent complex patterns very comparable to each other.

Model programmes instead of equations can now define work, work in progress and equations as an evolutionary step.