I use the Ed-Visa, but only because i am under 50 years...
I think the rules for Ed-Visa change so fast all the time, it is hard to keep up...
Me self i have to go to Laos to get the "Start Ed-Visa", i have friends on other school, that get the school to change hes Tourist visa to ED-Visa inside Thailand...
Every "Start" ED-Visa is good for 5 year and 3 month, Because first one is good for 15 month.
And my school say i can do that 2 time total, so that 10 years and 6 month...
Some Immigration give 90 days, some 1 year..
At my Immigration they WILL test us student, and if we learn to little, they cancel our Visa, i know 4 people that got the ED-Visa cancel because the learn to "slow"..
They come to the school, and video tape us, take picture, copy sign in book and so on..
New rule (Start 2013) at my Immigration office, Finger print check every 90 days at Thai Royal Police, and NEED to be no record to get the ED-Visa..
I do think ED-Visa is a good option, more so IF the school teach you, Not all do !!!
My school have a very good teacher first year, come from a job as teacher, But they let him go, and after him it have be bad bad teacher, As a teacher at Language School don´t NEED to be real Teacher, I have teacher that i know more about Thai Alphabet then my teacher, i have teacher that only was there to improve her own English skills, and to look for a Fa-Rang man for Married, and i can keep coming on...
All so, some school have big problems get your paper work in time, for me it is a fight every single time, and know of a few others on other school have same problems..
Simple because the way Thai think about thing, it is okay, we get it done in time, it is only overstay and so on...
Let be "fair" 180/200 hours pr year, it not a lot, if you there to learn to speak, read and write, I don´t think it be at the school you learn it, you need to do a lot of homework on you own, you NEED to go out and talk/listen to Thai......
Sure the school is a good tool to help you, practice in/at, give you some idea...
The culture courses might be different at other school, my school do the one that the M.O.E told them to do, and M.O.E send someone to control they school do it the way M.O.E want, and you learn nothing there, money out the window... I think...
All you "learn" there, you hear about/learn the first year there, going to class, going out see Thai in every day...
I will say, ED-Visa is a good option to stay in Thailand long time, if one have no other option, If have other option i pick that every day, and hire a private Teacher to learn Thai, But up to people what they do...