The Home Screen on the current models can have its icons re-arranged as you see fit. Unlike the older models, where the top row was fixed for Apple’s own “apps”. If you want your favorite five apps in the top row, then just move them to a new position.
All third party apps are user-downloadable and deletable.
The apps in the top row can have content shown in the “top shelf” banner space at the very top (or all of the background), when one of these apps is selected. This can be static and generic, or dynamic and customized to the user, or according to preference (as pre-programmed options), depending on app. If the banner space shows multiple items, then these may be directly selectable as shortcut. For some services, the use of this space is used promotionally.
E.g. the Spotify app will use it for suggested playlists.
E.g. if you have the Apple TV app, the Movies app, and the TV shows app on the second row or lower, then their Buy/Rent content will never be shown in the banner space at the top.