I don’t exactly remember the process but I just renewed my and it sure wasn’t that difficult. Sent my passport to the embassy, paid online through their app with a credit card, sent along with my passport a couple pictures and the form and 2 weeks later had a new passport. Oh and paid for the 100 baht for return postage.
and after reading the Bangkok Post article about the motorcycle gangs and ways to rid Thailand from them would be to increase the cost for the retirement extension substantially, I guess thinking motorcycle gang members don’t have much money lol makes me wonder 🤔