Reentry permit only keeps your permission to stay date active. It does not keep your visa active. That is voided once you enter Thailand within the valid time "use till".
So yes you can use a re-entry permit if you go outside Thailand for a short trip and come back before your initial permittion to stay date.
Lately i did meet a guy from Argentina who only got a 30 days visa exempt stamp. He did not know about the 90 days bi-lateral agreement and did not check/ask about it at the entry immigration. Always good to immediately check your stamp. Immigration officers can make mistakes.
If i want to rent a new condo i always mention the mandatory TM30 reporting in my talks with the owner/agent. I tell them I need this report to be done. Mostly they do it. But probably wouldnt have done it without my demand.