A series of 20 or more losses in a row can happen literally from your very first bet because everything depends on luck. So, it's worth noting that the martingale strategy sometimes doesn't really work on short distances, and I agree with you that it's pointless on long distances.
I guess it depends on the game you're playing. If you're playing slots, then yes, a losing streak can be even longer, but there’s probably no point in applying the Martingale strategy to slots. And if you’re having a 20-loss streak in betting, then maybe it’s time to consider stopping those bets, because clearly, you’re not very good at that particular game. The Martingale strategy in gambling has been discussed countless times, but I’ve never seen a single player say it’s a good idea.
I, on the other hand, only play slot games, and if I ever experienced using martingale, it was only in dice games, not in other games. Also, I don't use any tools or strategies in slot games because they are not actually needed in slot games.
And I'm also one of those who just depends on luck, but I don't expect to win a big amount, though I always expect only one thing and that is that I always lose in the end of my gambling, so our intention should always be just for fun so that there is no pain and expectation.