Jay Nase using the language barrier as an advantage and plain cheekiness and everyone is on best behaviour because they want visas I imagine. It's only collecting a number card at that point
Zoe Addams I know it totally wouldn't fly in any other place. However, lots of other people are doing it and I don't want to be the plum at the back so I go with the flow ;)
Usually there are guys outside offering taxis, say you'll go with one of those for like 200 baht and they run in and get you an early number. Means you just have to turn up 10 minutes before opening to do some scouting around