So sure, proper advice will be sort, but in the mean time, any input is good.

Is exported goods counted in the 1.8m?

So if you export 2mill of jellybeans they would be VAT free but if you then sold a bag of jellybeans in Thailand, that would be subject to VAT even though the total sales in Thailand was 1 100b bag of jellybeans?

Zero Rate VAT
Businesses subject to 0% VAT include-:
- export of goods;
- services rendered in Thailand and utilized outside Thailand in accordance with rule, procedure and condition prescribed by the Director-General;

&

VAT Exemptions
Businesses exempt from VAT include-:
• Small entrepreneur whose annual turnover is less than 1.8 million baht;

Source

2 other references re Thai VAT

http://www.thailandlawonline.com/revenue-code/value-added-tax-vat-law

http://www.phuket-accounting.com/vat.html

What is a promoter in reality? Do they need to be paid? Can 2 of them get together and override the single Thai "brains & resources" behind the Limited Company?

The incorporation of a Private Limited Company requires:

• A minimum of three promoters
• At least one director
• An auditor
• A memorandum of association
• A statutory meeting
• Registration of the incorporation papers

Source

What is a promoter in reality? Do they need to be paid? Can 2 of them get together and override the single Thai "brains & resources" behind the Limited Company?

The incorporation of a Private Limited Company requires:

• A minimum of three promoters
• At least one director
• An auditor
• A memorandum of association
• A statutory meeting
• Registration of the incorporation papers

Source

Promotor=shareholder. Can be as little as 1 share per promotor. Say each share is valued at 100 baht and registered capital is 2 million that gives 20,000 shares total. A single share has thus no effect on the shareholder voting.

Regarding VAT; I don't think it matters much if you have to count export revenue in the VAT registration threshold, because in most cases the export formalities require the company to have a VAT license. (unless you ship small parcels via post office abroad)