What are the key considerations for applying for a DTV or ED visa in Thailand?

Looking to getting an DTV / ED and had a few questions that I can’t find definitive answers using the search bar on this group…

I left Thailand a week ago to my home country of America. Trying to immediately finalize a visa to return to Thailand hopefully the first week of December. I’ve been in Thailand for approximately 10 months this year (visa-free re-entries). I’m using up my luck if I try to “fast track” using an agency to re-Thailand. Because each time I border bounce it gets more risky that I can’t get back in. And education visa for one year would be great until we finalize marriage and I can apply for marriage visa. But education visa seems much more complex and a real school that has not got a crack down requires 390 hours of school for 12 months, which is a serious commitment.

1) I currently have transferred the mandatory minimum for the DTV visa (threshold of ฿500,000) to an American bank account. Starting today, the funds are in there, but I want to apply for a DTV immediately to leave the first week of December hopefully. Are there any countries that are allowing 30 days instead of three months of marination of funds? I’ve seen some people mentioning it but didn’t know if they were specific countries that will allow this (I could fly to and apply there?

2) are they checking funds at your 180 day reentry? (for example, asking to see your banking app). I will have the 500,000 at the beginning of each year but will be using it to live on through throughout the year so at the 180 day mark, I may have half that to prove.

3) I found an agent in Pattaya that is highly reviewed and claims they can bypass everything and guarantee entry for DTV but I’m a little concerned that later on down the road there could be a crack down just like the education visa. Anyone pulled it off using an agent for 5-10x (this 1 is 80,000 baht) the cost of applying for yourself in order to make everything happen?

I’m about 24 hours from just throwing in the towel on this and getting education visa… but clearly DTV is a much better value and require significantly less  commitment.