Potato still rarely allows us to pick him up easily. He runs away quite nimbly, and even tries to squirm out of our hands once we get him. It's as if he doesn't like lap time. Except he definitely does. Once he's on the lap, he's happy and content, and will groom himself or snuggle in for a nap.
The easiest way to catch him, therefore, is when he's already asleep and doesn't see you coming. Then he's even more likely to continue his nap on the lap.