Source on it not creating money? Where I've worked, they had recommendations (for shows and movies) and we definitely were paid for showing them. Companies would pay us for priority, direct buy of a slot or to get certain keywords/demographics. They were really no different from ad slots at the end of the day. Only difference was that there was a small, but unlikely chance, someone that didn't pay could have been promoted.

Given this is Google's business, I'd find it hard to believe that they would market other products without a financial incentive (whether through a cut of the sale through the play store or direct payment for displaying the recommendation).

At least in the UK there are four recommendations in the top row, and two are explicitly marked with an "Ad" logo, so they are definitely paid ads.

(I agree broadly users do not care, but some of these are definitely paid, placed advertisements by Google.)