> Today, the page displays more relevant results with recently updated plugins. On the first page of results for WP Tavern, only one plugin from Automattic is recommended. The second page of results doesn’t list any plugins authored by Automattic.

Possible that WP Tavern already uses a few of the most popular automatic plugins and active plugins are not shown on the recommendation tab? (Would make sense)

I've got there three automatic plugins
plus three plugins connected less or more with automatic: http://take.ms/MWawK

WP SuperCache, bbpress, Jetpack, Akismet, BuddyPress, ThemeCheck

That looks like the plugins WhoIsWho of Automattic;)

I like the recommended plugins and have no problem to see them presented there but i have no personal need for them so these are not much suitable recommendations for me.