Mapping a VST plugin ridiculousness

My understanding is the Remote Control Editor is ONLY usable with those few specific controllers and is not mappable with a regular MIDI controller. The “Generic Remote” (or as you mentioned the “VST Quick Controls”) is the thing that can map midi controllers. It’s confusing because the “Remote Control Editor” looks like it is mapping, but it is some internal proticol and is not sending or receiving MIDI. Am I wrong?