[Edge v91] "Open a specific page" not working; Edge constantly asks to switch to Bing

Introduction

There are now quite a lot of reports around the Internet of users on the latest stable-channel release (v91.0.864.37) of two things happening:

Edge asks me every time I start it to "Use recommended browser settings"
"Open a specific page or pages" setting no-longer working

Issue 1: Edge asks you every time you start it to "Use recommended browser settings"

Some users report seeing this message every time they start the browser if they choose "Don't update your browser settings", then click [Apply settings].

To resolve this issue: in the Address Bar go to edge://flags/#edge-show-feature-recommendations and change the dropdown for that setting to "Disabled", then restart Edge

Issue 2: "Open a specific page or pages" setting no-longer working

Even if a user has a page set for this setting...

...they find that when Edge opens, all they get is the "New Tab Page":

Workaround 1: Set Bing as your default search-provider

In the Address Bar, go to edge://settings/searchEngines

Click the "..." after the Bing entry, and choose "Make default"

Next time you start Edge, you'll find it now begins loading your chosen startup page again:

Workaround 2: Modify the shortcut used to launch Edge (for Windows users only)

If you don't want to set Bing as your search-provider, instead find a shortcut to Edge and right-click it, then go to Properties.

In the Target box, right at the end (after the "msedge.exe" part) leave a single space, and then type the web-address you want, then click [OK]. That shortcut will always make Edge load that page when it starts, but remember all other shortcuts won't.

Other reports on these issues:

Microsoft Answers

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftedge/forum/all/issues-opening-a-specific-page-or-pages-on-startup/fb174abf-15f9-4e1a-884c-a10567277291

Norton Community

https://community.norton.com/en/forums/new-microsoft-edge-version-91086437-official-build-64-bit

Reddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoft/comments/nnsiht/microsoft_edge_not_opening_pages_on_startup/

https://www.reddit.com/r/MicrosoftEdge/comments/nmza5v/microsoft_edge_stable_91086437_manage_search/

https://www.reddit.com/r/MicrosoftEdge/comments/nmhgdr/microsoft_edge_stable_91086437_keeps_repeatedly/

https://www.reddit.com/r/edge/comments/nnktn9/new_update_no_longer_respecting_startup_page/

https://www.reddit.com/r/MicrosoftEdge/comments/nnmhit/todays_update_broke_my_specific_page_on_start/

https://www.reddit.com/r/edge/comments/nn14i9/how_to_have_edge_startup_on_google_page/