The shift from administration to enforcement of immigration laws and regulations has, as you pointed out, changed.
It is now, again, changing with scrutiny of Thai nominees with foreign shareholders in businesses, education visas, foreign monied interests, non-Thais working jobs that are reserved for Thais, and other practices.
With enforcement, the risks of being seen as lax can be costly to officers.
As a U.S. citizen I can choose to live in all fifty states and U.S. territories, but confound it, I discovered other countries set immigration rules that serve THEIR interests and needs.