First I would suggest if you DO NOT play maximum bet that you will NEVER come out ahead no matter what machine you play. Playing maximum bet is a MUST if you want to get the maximum expected return.
I would also suggest that most players on here would say that they have hit many royals. My wife and I play a few times a year with a limited bank roll and have hit multiple royals.
As a whole we are UP in our Vegas play through the years and are DOWN in our home play here in Kansas City.....