In my experience they're either snuggle-bugs or not, and nothing I've done with them has changed that.
Morty, one of the current batch, is Not A Lap Cat, hates being picked up, and only on exceedingly rare occasions will he get on a lap at all. However, he loves rough love, nuggies, brushes (he'll stand on my lap drooling if I brush him, but won't sit down) and attention. He will stand there demanding attention, complete with mournful howls, elbow licking and The Claw - one extended claw that he pokes with till he gets what he wants. This, from a cat who never ever in his life intentionally scratched anyone, adult or child, and who as a tiny little kitten would gleefully claw the stuffing out of a toy but retract claws once a hand came near. And he'll happily lie next to somebody with his head cushioned by their body.
Salem is a happy little lap cat, when it suits her. In fact for most cats it's 'when it suits them'. She's still young, not quite 2, and gets a bit excitable sometimes, so if something startles her, she'll jump off the lap, claws out, and flee.
Previous cats I've been owned by have varied from the curl up and never move, immovable object type lap cat to the seriously psycho kitty I got landed with once when a neighbour moved and left her with me. (Her offspring were just as ratty, so I suspect with her it was a genetic personality issue, certainly nothing I ever did caused her to be that way, and nothing I ever did improved her disposition, or her kittens'. They all acted like ferals despite tons of attempted lovin'.)
I think PPs have it right when they suggest adopting an older/adult cat rather than a kitten, and see which of them comes to you for snuggles. Even snugglebugs may take some time to warm to a stranger, but you can see the ones that want to - they'll frequently come close, close enough that you need to stretch to reach them, so with plenty of space if they want to make a quick getaway in case they feel threatened.