What happened to the song-taews routes:

Sukhumvit north pattaya > North pattaya road > Dolphin Roundabout / Beach road / Naklua?

Waited at the official “bus stop” outside the Gems Gallery (across somewhat from the Bangkok Bus depot) for almost an hour and not a sign of any - where in the past there would dozens every few minutes or so. Is this some kind of a conspiracy with the 'mafia controlled” song-taews within the bus depot (that charges outrageous overpriced fare) to eliminate all outside cheaper competitions?

Be sure to check the wind direction, they can usually smell money from 1 kilometre away!

I saw a big slowdown on Pattaya Klang also coming from Sukhumvit.  Low traffic route for riders I reckon

Not from the Bangkok Bus depot at North Pattaya road - about one full bus every 20 minutes or so.  And the people are suckered into the waiting song-taews at 50+ per pop (instead of the standard 10-20 if taken outside). And they don't even go the usual route up North Pattaya road to Beach road any longer.