Mike, I think you wisely reiterated before but it is worth repeating, if most ex pats didn't have any family connections to Thailand , there would be a bigger exodus. I have no doubt.
I have enjoyed coming to Thailand for many years ( 15 x since 2006) , its a wonderful country to vacation for the $, but honestly I wouldn't frequented as much as I did if I wasn't married to my Thai wife. With covid the last few years, we had to cancelled our bi yearly trip in 2021. She's not asking me to go to LOS this summer.