It's like a giant plinko board where the shape of the original disc guides how it falls through the apparatus, and the apparatus has been tuned so that different discs end up in the exits we want them to

This is the exact analogy I use to explain how models work to laypersons as well.

That's a scam.

In what way is GP comment promising a product and then not delivering, or are you just throwing the word "scam" around?