I think ZOS confused the demographics of players who enjoy housing with hard mode leader board score pushers. Housing does not need "recommendations", a.k.a votes, to push a competitive mindset on a player demographic that is largely noncompetitive. Even sweaty leaderboard score pushers who enjoy housing are not decorating with a competitive mindset. Housing is a creative activity which means it is relaxing for some and zen for others. Being a creative activity also means that it is highly subjective. We don't want or welcome any kind of competitive mechanic.
And yet there are many housing guilds who host contests with 100-200+ million gold prizes, and ZOS themselves host housing competitions with significant prizes.
If you think housing enthusiasts are not competitive, and that there are no rewards for your creativity.... well, others may disagree with you.
Yes, and participation in those is optional. ZOS is making a semi leaderboard for housing which affects the entire housing community and can be abused. What happens when the most recommended homes get in the top votes and stay there because they have so many recommendations that newer players or newer decorations have no chance of being displayed? How would ZOS address people who pay for votes and go on massive marketing campaigns to keep their homes constantly displayed? How will the average player compete with popular content creators who will youtube their homes and have masses of people visit their homes and upvote them?