Since we've given up on ISO sizes anyways, let's test the removal of no-follow-recommends to see what it fixes and if it makes a difference at all.

STRUCTURE

@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 include platform.bionic
-feature no-follow-recommends
 core: core-share
 core-gtk: core-share
 core-qt: core-share

core

@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ Task-Name: lubuntu-core
 Task-Metapackage: lubuntu-core
 Task-Seeds: core-gtk core-share
 
- * Feature: no-follow-recommends
-
 
 = Meta-package =
  * lubuntu-core

core-gtk

@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ Task-Name: lubuntu-gtk-core
 Task-Metapackage: lubuntu-gtk-core
 Task-Seeds: core-share
 
- * Feature: no-follow-recommends
-
 = LXDE core packages =
 
  * pcmanfm

core-share

@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@ Task-Extended-Description: This task provides shared packages for minimal instal
 Task-Key: core-share
 Task-Name: core-share
 
- * Feature: no-follow-recommends
-
 
 = LXDE / LXQt core packages =
 

desktop

@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ Task-Name: lubuntu-desktop
 Task-Metapackage: lubuntu-desktop
 Task-Seeds: desktop-gtk desktop-share
 
- * Feature: no-follow-recommends
-
 == Default seeds ==
 
  * lubuntu-desktop-gtk

desktop-gtk

@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ Task-Name: lubuntu-gtk-desktop
 Task-Metapackage: lubuntu-gtk-desktop
 Task-Seeds: desktop-share core-gtk
 
- * Feature: no-follow-recommends
-
 == Default seeds ==
 
  * lubuntu-gtk-core

desktop-share

@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ Task-Key: lubuntu-desktop-share
 Task-Name: lubuntu-desktop-share
 Task-Seeds: core-share
 
- * Feature: no-follow-recommends
-
 == Default seeds ==
 
  * lubuntu-core

live

@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ Task-Key: ubiquity-frontend
 Task-Test-new-install: skip show
 Task-Seeds: live-gtk live-share live-common
 
- * Feature: no-follow-recommends
-
 == Languages support ==
 
  * Languages: en

live-gtk

@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ Task-Key: ubiquity-frontend-gtk
 Task-Test-new-install: skip show
 Task-Seeds: live-share
 
- * Feature: no-follow-recommends
-
 == Languages support ==
 
  * Languages: en

live-share

@@ -7,12 +7,6 @@ Task-Key: ubiquity-frontend
 Task-Test-new-install: skip show
 Task-Seeds: live-common
 
- * Feature: no-follow-recommends
-
-== Bootloader ==
- * grub-pc                  # no-follow-recommends doesn't put grub on the ISO (ubiquity recommends)
-                            # See LP: 1649462
-
 == Languages support ==
 
  * Languages: en