It is not a proof of ownership of home or condo. Tabien baan is literally house registration which lists all foreign individuals holding a ‘Temporary Stay’ or a ‘Long Stay’ visa/visa exemption who live at the condo or house address specified in the house registration book
If you join the Thaivisa.com forum there are some pinned posts that detail exactly how people got Permanent residency, and Thai Citizenship, Not an easy thing, unless you are rich or Chinese......
No, it was an article in the Phuket gazette that quoted an immigration official, although as you say I am sure it was not during the first couple of days