Google playstore showing "similar app available here" in green bar

To what I know, Play Store only suggests lite versions of the apps under this current setup. The lite versions of Google apps (at least) were originally developed for Android Go smartphones. But then Google decided that users of standard Android smartphone might also wanna try the lite versions.

So, you get app suggestions for YouTube, Google Maps, Facebook, Messenger etc. WhatsApp isn't shown since WhatsApp doesn't have a lite version.

The current setup is only there to push a lighter (and faster?) version of the same app. Its intention is not exactly to give you similar apps. Similar apps are offered later on, at the end of the app description.
Yeah the wording could have been better, but Google is the boss. Maybe Google will expand the functionality in the future to get something like what you're expecting in the latter part of your question.

Edit: From the source (in comments), it does look like Google is also suggesting a bigger version of the app when you're browsing the lite verison. Still, my answer stands relevant as it is only doing the juggling between lite and standard app and not exactly doing similar/related apps.