does anyone actually understand how slot math works

When people talk about "slot math," I always wonder if anyone here actually understands what’s going on under the hood. I get that there's the RTP and volatility stuff, but how much control do casinos really have over those numbers, and how much is just marketing talk? I’ve tried reading up on RNGs and payout cycles but it just gets confusing. I see some people claim they can predict bonus cycles or say certain slots are “hot” or “cold,” but I’m guessing that's just vibes and not actual math.

Is there any way as a regular player to get a sense for the true odds or is it all just trusting what the slot says on the info panel? How do you all approach picking games if you actually care about the numbers and not just the features or theme?