Yes, but you can see why some (airlines?) might be confused by the opening statement;
UK ordinary passport holders can travel to Thailand without visa for no longer than 30 days (maximum 2 times/year).
Yes. Maybe better to buy a fully refundable ticket or even a cheap real ticket and bin it later.
Yes
Yes.
They are really trying to put off tourists it seems. No idea, just say anything reasonably credible.
No, not in Pattaya. Bangkok, Ubon yes, maybe some more, I have the idea it's down to staff awareness rather than anything else as I have experienced the first line staff having to seek advice from above to get it working.
Yes in 7-11 and several other stores around Bangkok and beyond. Mine is using a Wise debit card so its the only way to pay using that in 7-11. The wprd "tap" and gesturing with the phone seems to be enough to get them to activate the reader. Really anywhere accepting contactless (as opposed to QR) payments should accept.
So you'll have to do an air run. Probably a good idea to go elsewhere for a week, Phnom Penh maybe, you might be able to pick up a tourist visa there while you are at it.
You can only do 2 land border entries per year so your best option is to get a tourist visa and first enter by air, 60 days + 30 day extension. Then 1 land border run + 30 day extension. 1 more land border run brings you to 180 with still the option of another 30 day extension.
Wise is usually very clear about what you will receive before you send. And your account wil have a clear record of what charges were taken from any money you send. Do you not have these records?
You probably don't actually need one but if you decide to try you get it from DLT, some information here....https://www.dlt.go.th/en/international-driving-licence (it's a permit not a licence but they don't seem to know that)
It is but speed varies a lot. I am on True 5G, Redmi Note 13, and right now am getting 17.4Mbps. Most times it is much faster than that, usually 60-100.
edit - Just tested again, 68.5!