34 years in S/E Asia 22 in Thailand my advice if you dont want to be the average tourist and get ripped off is Talk like a Thai eat like a Thai and Live like a Thai.... it is that simple.
i have done many times but that is not to say i recomend it . Easy to fix with a simple bus ticket to cambodia if questioned. I did 8 years in Thailand once without any visa . I saved a fortune just paid a small fine when i left. Times have changed since then though .