Bruce, "Everyone was getting people nervous". The only person who has been nervous about re entering Thailand has been you. You made some bad choices, learn from them and hopefully keep your thoughts to yourself and not share them.
Phil Jones I got a residency letter from immigration that cost 300b. Then went to ONE bank, Bangkok Bank and took with me proof where I lived to their branch in jomtien with a Thai friend and got bank account opened and ATM card issued within 30 minutes.
At immigration it pays always to be polite, courteous and respectful even when you feel irate and in a bad mood. I think the people who work at immigration remember the good and bad customers.
Go to Singapore. Folk who want to skimp on tax and probably looking for loop holes to pay staff the minimum as they can. Pay what you supposed to and not be greedy.