I mean, I'm not asking about what you wrote, rather, is that your case? A passport from let's say Portugal issued at the Portuguese Embassy in Thailand or China? I'm asking because this has been a cause for many rejections.
It shouldn't matter, yet there are supposedly reports of "issues" when entering via Phuket or Chiang Mai. I do think, however, those issues were due to the specific people's situation, not the airport itself.
I've used them. No problem. However, as I remember, it's not something you can choose. Some days or times you're directed to the regular gates while at some other times is trhu the automatic gates.
And for those wondering an easy way to differentiate both things: you need to be already inside the country to be deported. At the airport is always entry rejection (before you pass Immigration you're still not inside the country).
Congratulations. But as other pointed out, you WEREN'T deported. You were denied entry. Those are very different legal concepts, and if deported is near to impossible to get a visa later. On the other hand, denied entry means nothing for future entries/visa applications.
You do need a personal bank account for the application (doesn't need to be on a Thai bank). Also, you're not allowed to run a company in Thailand on the DTV, either. (Ignore the last sentence if the company is not registered in Thailand, but elsewhere).