If you have been here 20 years then you will know the Thais do not hold in high regard sex tourism and see such as Pattaya as in Bangkok before a tourism model. The Covid has done what the government could not. Do you really think the thais are suffering up north east. They would like to see it continue on lockdown. It is not affecting them at all. In fact they like it. No noise at night. No booze or fags. What do they need with planes. They are not even missing the transport. If you think you understand culture. Start again. We all have done that and never been right.
But if you never left the country they would have granted you indefinite stay. Thais do not like immigration. A visa is just a time limited means of staying in the country. UK do the same except on further settlement visas...
It is one way of writing off all their debts and starting again. But not good if your in credit with them on a cancelled flight. I did wonder if ALL the airlines would try think way out of not paying.