UPDATES: I'm in Thailand again.
apologies for my lack of interactions here, i read all your advices and got lost in deliberations for quite a while, with DTV still beyond my current status, eventually i settled on going with TR as @Tim K and @Katatonica suggested, (thank you there). But instead of Penang, which i thought i would go, following your two concurring, i decided to do it in Kuala Lumpur because the lowest bracket of hostels are cheaper on average in KL (and paying cash at the reception to circumvent the malevolence of 10 rm tourism tax per day), and i needed time to gather my docs. And i thought if they reject they will reject, so, eff it, come what may.
The Day of submitting my TR visa docs at embassy:
I had with me 3 months' bank statements, accommodation proof (invitation letter + house registration + Thai citizen id copy) , my passport id page copy, 2 passport pics, to and onward tickets (as required), completed form stating purpose of visit is tourism + others: stay with Thai citizen. @Rob Browder I went with flight ticket KL to BKK instead of land entry because I wasn't sure land route tickets were admissible as travel itineraries in the Visa application, also because man it's a long way from south borders to BKK. If i got stuck at the Thai-Malay border, i would have to go back down to whatever Airport, Penang or KL depending on flight prices, because ask me if i wanted to stay in Malaysia my answer is an expletive no. Presented my appointment QR as instructed, arrived 20 mins early, waited extra half hour to get called. The embassy was not empty of other applicants, as i've hoped, but packed a few dozens of them. It was my turn and I wasn't even sure the officer would accept my submission, because i walked up to a guy who i saw got turned away from the counter. He's from Nepal trying to apply for some sort of Visa (not TR), told to apply from his home country. With half an expectation that i would be turned away too, it was my turn to hand over my papers. Upon her scrutiny the officer asked me to provide my final bank account balance, which i didn't have yet from the bank, as it's due to release next month, but she was ok that i make a screenshot of it on my bank app, and in hard copy, then come back again (same day morning session). So I went to the print shop about 5 mins walk opposite street (a small independent shop running on a ground floor attached to a hotel), asked the shop keeper to take a photo of my phone showing bank app coz it prohibits screenshots, then she printed this photo for me for 2 ringgits. Went back to embassy, waited for a few people, back to the same officer who then accepted my application, took my 160 ringgit fee, and gave me a pick-up slip in return chop chop, which indicated next day. Viola, but i still had to wait 1 more day. Fast forward next day, many from the day before went early too, we all queued up before the embassy opens for afternoon session (2:30 pm). The return of passport was a much quicker process. BAM I got the TR. A full page sticker, 3 months validity from the date of retrieving my passport.
Legend says the BAM could still be heard in the distance future where I lay 6 feet under.
Day of landing at Don Mueang:
Inadvertently queued up to an IO with stars on her shoulders, because i also like to live dangerously. She took time to inspect my case, gossiped with her partner sitting adjacent, after moments of tense silence, then asked my purpose of visit, to which i answered quite honestly: tourism and stay with Thai citizen, and i showed her the invitation letter, the content on which she traced with a finger. Then she asked if i had a return ticket. I showed her. Then I was stamped and let in.
Verdict:
Stayed on VE over 8 months within a calendar year with many border runs and 2 extensions, applied for TR visa with legit docs and reasons, after scaffolding my passport with stamps from a couple of other countries in little less than 2 months, was let in. Couldn't tell if this works for everybody but for the record this one time it worked.
Visa agency:
Thanks for your inputs but I have trust issues with people let alone 3rd party middlepeople who are dead set on ripping off foreigners with legally questionable means and I didn't feel like putting my name on the money boat that tries to get around the official gov immigration who in my impression happens to be quite sensitive with disrespects. I'm afraid i might end up paying for another money boat being turned away with a parting gift of unknown future consequences. Not to mention that I don't think these middlepeople deserve the money they extort.
FInal thoughts:
I need to pull my fecal matters together get a remote job (again), aim for a long term visa. Aka juicing the grits to earn the rights to a life I want, like a normal person does. That's actually how i see this or any other current system, unfortunately, works.
Thank you everybody who took the time to response and advice. You helped me. And I hope my rundown helps someone else in similar situation too.
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Thank you. Indeed it was stressful, but i did it for personal imperatives. Very lucky I got it. And that it worked this one time, doesn't mean the next one will too. I don't want to go through this again just to fail like it's a toss of a coin (and that's how much faith i have for the Thai immigration, even as someone who committed no crimes) About agency services, to me the legitimacy and outcome both seem to be variables, because the ultimate say is from the government (isn't it?), which is also a variable, and a whimsical one at that. I try to avoid going through an additional layer of variables on top of the official variables which alone were already maxing out on my nerves, all the more with additional pays and i've always spent carefully. Would rather spend it on Japanese buffets.
