Whilst I see no reason to exploit the situation, I also see no logical reason to pay more either. I set out to neither underpay nor overpay.
Now if a board member tips in the middle of the short time range suggested in the opening post, the lad's received the equivalent of about 4 days on the minimum wage in Thailand. So he only needs about 1.5 clients per week to be equivalent to working 6 whole days on the minimum wage.
Also, all of the lads I met short time earlier this year were quite happy to come back again.
However, when I asked them if they wanted to do short time or long time, the answer was always short time. Obviously there's a larger tip for long time and they might even get some meals out of it. However, they chose short time and didn't even enquire about how much extra they would get for long time.
No sign of desperate finances there ! After all, if they were really struggling to get customers, they would go for long time and a bigger tip.
Bear in mind, one long time off is going to be more than a week on the minimum wage.
Of course, the lads I see are in that exclusive group who are slim, cute, with no tattoos, breasts or facial hair. It's possible that they really were getting enough business, whilst some of the less attractive ones struggle more.
My observations were, of course, earlier in 2021. Perhaps it's more difficult now, if some expats & tourists are more reluctant to do offs due to covid.
Most of the lads I see regularly have my Line ID. The only one who asked for money via that channel is the one who's expert at milking multiple farangs for their money. He can even remember most of the major exchange rates.
None of the others have asked.