Apparently Amazon is dead set on killing the device prior to changing the OS to stop installations of side loading APK’s like Kodi. This is like chopping off your nose to spite your face.
If they didn't de-select the option when ordering to have the device automatically setup for them, it's been loaded with the latest firmware that blocks the use of third party launchers.
The top of the entire starting page is an ad. You gotta navigate past it to get to your apps. It's so engrained in your mind that you don't even realize it's an ad anymore.
Aah that thing, ok yeah, you're right. I guess I almost never see it because I'm showing family pictures when nobody is watching and then I press the YouTube button to open the SmartTube app.
On my LG I just have everything mapped to a long press on the remote, so I rarely see the home screen. Not that it's showing ads (yet) but it's nice to have that option (and much quicker)