@Deiter *******
No, I am American. When I applied, it was a sticker. I hear now that the application is completed online, and that you when you get the visa, you have to print it, but you still need to indicate the location of the Thai Embassy of the country in which you reside and remain in that country until the process is complete in case they ask you to come in to the Embassy for clarifications.
I personally have never looked at VFS and embassies as places that intentionally make my life difficult, rather, I look at what documents they require, I gather them one by one, submit them, pay the fee, and then go about my business. But yes, I do notice other people getting easily frustrated by the redtape. I just never do, rather just follow the instructions to the T and wait for the response which has always been positive.