Not a solution for most people, but if you didn't know, it's very easy to replace the new tab page with a custom one using a minimal, local extension. In your manifest.json include

    "chrome_url_overrides": { "newtab": "ntp.html" }

and if you want it to work in incognito tabs

    "incognito": "split"

(you will also need to go to your extensions's detail page and flip on "Allow in incognito").

Then create your ntp.html page (can be named whatever, just change the json to match), with CSS file(s) and image(s) as needed. I made a simple flexbox "speed dial" page with sites I specify rather than changing based on some kind of "frecency".

In chrome://extensions/, flip the "Developer mode" switch and then click "Load unpacked" and choose your extension's folder.