I am sure I have read this post, but unfortunately, I didn't find the information I needed. In the sorting of the "Newest" list, all items are ranked based on their publication time. I can't help but wonder if simply by sharing enough links within minutes or even seconds, projects can quickly appear in the "Newest" list. For instance, I noticed a project named https://project-vr.itch.io/project-vr, which was only published for a few dozen seconds when I checked, yet it was already listed in the "Newest" section.
That's right, not all projects are held for staff review, especially after you've published a few with no trouble. But it depends. The exact criteria are secret, and the waiting queue is prioritized by a number of factors, among which is organic traffic. So your best bet is to do your own promotion so that your project gets seen instead of waiting for itch.io staff to index your project.
...All of which is explained in the post you said you've read. Hope this helps.