What do you mean by "just go with soft power and accept that you will have to take a short trip outside Thailand every 6 months" You will still have to do this whether you choose soft power or workcation. The visa conditions are the same, stamped in for 180 day's.
What exactly can you take into consideration? The AP has provided zero information on where they applied, whether they actually met the requirements or not, information submitted etc
Well that actually doesn't make any sense that they would off that because the education visa would then become redundant. Although if I was doing a language course I'd get a DTV instead for a soft power which in a way makes the education visa indirectly redundant