The responses are generally what I expected. And if people don’t like the word tourist, or to be called a foreigner, then you can call yourself whatever you like instead. Expat or even migrant if you prefer. Whatever. Your still not ever going to be viewed as one of them. As @AreYouGerman said, it’s one of the perks. So it’s better to be seen as an outsider and then you are more likely to be treated with kid gloves.
Sure, speaking Thai helps a lot. It is probably the best personal upgrade you can make. You will likely get treated better when someone is providing a service to you and there will be less misunderstandings. And it will also help a lot if you have a Thai partner, but that’s about it. But there are also times where you will be treated better if you don’t speak Thai and you need to know when to use Thai and when not to.
My point though wasn’t about being here longer and integrating making things better for you as a foreigner. Sure, that helps a lot. But my point was about being accepted as one of them and it is just never going to happen.
In fact, I came here long before many young Thais were even born. So when they ask me how long I’ve been here, and I tell them since before they were born, it still changes nothing. They probably just think I’m fookin strange.