kubuntu-desktop is just a meta package so if you deinstall one of it's dependencies you don't have installed the kubuntu-desktop meta package anymore so it will be removed. (and only kubuntu-desktop package not its other dependencies)
And no apt does not install recommends by default.
I don't understand the problem.
kubuntu-desktop is just a meta package so if you deinstall one of it's dependencies you don't have installed the kubuntu-desktop meta package anymore so it will be removed. (and only kubuntu-desktop package not its other dependencies)
And no apt does not install recommends by default.
So it is not a bug it's a feature.