Can I leave Thailand during the 180-day period on a DTV visa and return later?

You've completely misunderstood the visa. The DTV is valid for 5 years, and during those 5 years, each entry allows you to stay for 180 days. You can also extend each stay one time for another 180 days before you must leave to get stamped back in for a new 180 day period. In other words, you can enter Thailand on that visa, stay for 1 day or 180 days or anything in between, leave, and come back anytime within the 5 year validity period and get stamped in again for a new 180 day period. It doesn't matter if you come back the next day or don't come back until 4 years later. If you actually need to stay more than 180 days during one visit to Thailand, then you can get the extension that allows an additional 180 days. After 360 days, you would need to exit, then re-enter, to activate a new 180 day stay period. Note all this is assuming no changes by Immigration to entry rules for that visa during the 5 year period.

No entry stamp means you must stay until the exit date stamped in your passport, that is the final day you can leave before going on overstay and becoming illegal

You have 5 years to enter and exit, and reentry freely. You'll get a 180 stay permit (let's call it that way, it's not an official term) upon EVERY arrival.

You cannot pause the 180 days. But you can reset them.

It's a multiple entry visa valid for 5 years. Every single time you enter Thailand during those 5 years, you receive a 180 day stamp.

If you stay in Thailand for 100 days then leave and return you get a new 180 day stamp.

Every entry is at the discretion of the immigration officer you are standing in front of.