If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is….. everyone also left out fluctuations in the exchange rate. I think that it is best to just to deposit and leave the 800k THB so you don’t have to worry about it.
To answer the question of how many times you can visit and stay each time for your 30 day visa on arrival? Probably as many as you want if it is truly vacation. Meaning you are returning to the USA to work for a month or multiple months. It is when you only leave for a day then return for another 30 multiple times in a row that will get you flagged. You do want to book around trip ticket each time, so you can show that you have an exit flight for your entry visa.
best to do a flight from the west coast. There are direct flights to Singapore and that gets you the closest. Then take an Asian Airline to Thailand. Plus Singapore is the best airport in the world.
my bad, you are correct about no direct flights… I have searched a lot of different ways in the last few weeks and forgot. I was just looking on Skyscanner and see that there are no direct flights. There are some one stop that are not bad.