A smart trending section would be best, with NPL parameters mainstream users can enter to affect the algorithms. This would prevent clumping and make it unclear where those trying to game the system would have to concentrate. Being dispersed, they would have a harder time gaming that system, and the experience would be safer and better for users. Less conflict.
A single, determinate product shelf itself always has pure dominant strategies. These are easiest strategies to automate. It's a major issue on this chain. And hard to fix when a user base mostly self selecting into the system according to narrow interests already in place.