Usually with ED visas, your given advice not to leave the country, Brandon has given you good advice regarding your situation, so I suppose the decision is yours, I understand your difficult situation.
Was it a lawyer that does visas?? I've sat in numerous visa agents offices, discussing my options, and never been charged for advice, the visa you apply for depends on your age, and financial situation to meet visa requirements, find out all your options, and then decide if you want to do it yourself, or get a visa agent to assist you.
Tim Gascoigne if the DTV can be obtained with a few cooking classes, or muay Thai classes, why would someone give all their financial information to the authorities of any country, how do you know they are not saving all that information, and could use it against someone that doesn't file a tax return, a lot of the digital nomads will just continue to hide in hotel room somewhere, and not do anything, the same as they have always done, who knows in a couple of years time, they may chase all of them, for unpaid income tax.
read the comments from an ex-border force officer, scan passport coming in, not going out, if you're not a wanted criminal, or of any interest to the authorities, it seems nobody takes any notice.