A popular feature of BlueSky that really gets new users’ feeds going is their Starter Packs.
Mastodon Migration Blog is replicating this good idea for the Fediverse with follow packs. These are csv files that can be downloaded and imported into Mastodon to follow a bunch of users around a topic.
I use misskey too, but I wouldn’t call user recommendations the same as BlueSky Starter Packs or this. It’s more of a starting point for specific topics rather than just generally popular users or algorithmically determined recommendations. Instead it’s a set of lists of curated users for people to get their feed started, who will then follow more people that those users boost.
Unrelated: Maybe it’s just my Japanese misskey instance and followings, but most people there just say they woke up, had a nice meal, came back from work, or just the random thought on their mind, and a lot of supporting reactions under each.
Not the same, no, but it offers enough to get people started, and keep them happy.
Which Mastodon just kind of refuses to do.