First there is a breakthrough, then there is gradual improvement till the limits of that particular technology has been reached.
Silicium chips are multi-core now, for single core is just about there where it can be handled. Smaller, denser, research is looking at gallium-arsenide and optical chips. Still in its infancy, but a lot of money goes in R&D. Same with cellphones. Or remember the first portable computers? Lugging them around saved you trips to the gym - ot necessitated them to develope enough muscle to lift them
Mods have come quite a way. In fact, we've got decent hardware now because of high performance batteries. Decade ago there wasn't anything available to deliver what we need. Using electricity to generate heat is - comped to what else it can do - horribly inefficient.
And pushing limit too fast too hard does have is risks .... Remember the battery issues that grounded the Boeing 787 ---- their equivalent to a mod blowing up in your face....