As a following comment noted it is possible to filter in a different way but for most users unless an add-on is offered that manages that - they will be stuck with those "recommendations" (think "revenue enhancement" as a slick repackaging for "tax increase").Cept none of those will work on this because, shock horror, they aren't real ads.
Read it again if you don't understand.
Its recommended sites, just like it has now based on your frequently visited sites. Its just recommending sites to first time users while older uses still have it customized to their preferences.
So while AdBlock will still work, if a site follows the traditional protocols for posting ads; however, in Firefox AdBlock will be rendered ineffective against their recommendations (ads) - at least initially.
This is not the only change that his peers are objecting to & Firefox/Mozilla may want to listen to that demographic.
Is it reasonable to presume that when Mozilla pushes these things out to Firefox they will likely show up in Seamonkey?