Yes, I know, but the ME visa could help him to bridge to the income qualification in the future if payments are maintained, or just use it to maintain legal status year to year.
Using the income method, Thai Immigration only wants to see that you have at least 40,000 baht being deposited in each calendar month from a foreign source to a Thai bank account in your name.
They don’t care how you spend it.
The Savvanahket ME Married to a Thai, is a way to bridge to that qualification, or to use without income qualifications.