I eventually disabled Recommended by Pocket on my new tab screen because the recommendations were typically clickbaity and being on the new tab screen, it would many times divert me from whatever more important original action I meant to take.

The creators probably had good intentions, but Recommended by Pocket seems almost like a dark pattern.

Since not all of the links are interesting, I'd like Recommended by Pocket to be able to learn from my input. I want to punish the uninteresting links and reward the interesting ones, so that I see more of something that I like.

I disabled that too but I still use pocket to manage my reading list. My new tab screen is completely blank, its oddly calming.

It's a tool I have perfectly good alternatives for I already use that keeps using screen and menu space in my browser. I.e. why does my context menu have a "save to pocket" option despite me not being signed up for it, that I only ever will click accidentally? I don't mind there being a Pocket integration in Firefox, I somewhat mind it getting in the way if I don't want to use it.

mind sharing how you use pocket? i stopped using the web and mobile apps. all i get now is a weekly digest and that covers all i want.

For me its simple. I get most of my info on the web from RSS, and pocket is able to get through paywalls on articles with a right click.