If you have a debit card/bank account that refunds ATM fees, it might turn out a bit cheaper to use the ATM. But you're going to be limited to getting smaller amounts at a time. I believe the maximum is 35 or 40k baht from certain ATMs, I can't remember exactly. As long as you're not accepting the ATM conversion rate, you'll be getting whatever conversion rate your bank gives you, so it'll be a little bit of a mystery until everything settles.
With Wise or other transfers you can send much larger amounts and have the full amount available in your Thai bank account to use QR payments and such. And at least with Wise you'll know the exact transfer rate and fees before you ever click accept.
If the visa is already issued when you are attempting to enter the first time, you will likely be required to use it then.
There have been many reports of people asking if they could enter using visa exempt and I've never seen anyone say that they were allowed to do so.
I also saw a report from someone who didn't mention they had the visa hoping to enter visa exempt, and the officer found it and required them to use it.
Because you're not meant to try to live in Thailand as a tourist.
Also, how did you come to the conclusion that a tourist visa is not available to anyone? It is available. You just have to apply and pay, but that won't really matter. A tourist is a tourist whether it's visa exempt or tourist visa.
I had absolutely no problem finding the non-O visa for the Thai embassy in Singapore on the e-visa site.
The e-visa system is standardized for all embassies. The non-O visa is available from EVERY Thai embassy and consulate.
And if for some reason you didn't want to apply in Singapore, you would still not be able to get a bank account in Thailand so that means Thailand isn't an option. So you would need to travel to a different country and apply through the Thai embassy in that country.
Each bank branch manager sets the requirements for their branch. So what you were told are the rules for that single branch. Not for Bangkok Bank. Others have been told the exact opposite at other branches, that only marriage visa is allowed to get an account and they don't accept retirement anymore.
Your question doesn't make any sense. This is about the other person. That person is from Thailand, not from EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Lichtenstein.
at the airport just hand them your passport. They'll fill in all the documents and make any copies needed including taking your photos. That's why it's an extra 200 baht at the airport