It is a headache for sure. I live in Surin now, so two trips to Bangkok would cost me about 5,000 Baht in diesel. I used Key visa company in Pattaya, which, as you say cost 5,000 Baht. I was lucky regarding the photos. Went to a Thai photo shop in Prasart. He took my picture in the photo room, then changed the background, etc. on the computer. He certainly knows what he is doing.