I've met people who are leaving just because they can't cope with the uncertainty. Many have no chance of coming up with 800,000 baht. They came to Thailand originally because it was cheap and they didn't have much money, after all.

Many have given up on the 30-day visa runs altogether, and do 60-day visa runs. Some won't even apply for extensions because the rules there are rather variable. Even those with the one-year visas feel insecure. After all, next year they may ask for 1.5 million baht or something. So even if they like it and can afford it, they get tired of feeling they may be chased out next year.