Well they are extremely popular~!
Not.
>>1
Yes. I've learned three of them--Thai, Lao, and Khmer. I think they're very interesting, not hard to learn or pronounce (although Thai and Lao are tonal), and are written in beautiful scripts, esp. Khmer.
>>3
Oh, forgot to add, I'll also get more ladyboys. Gotta love them traps...
>>4
You're not me and you know it. Thailand is indeed a good place to go trolling for ladyboys, though, if that's your thing. I'm not sure I ever saw a transsexual in Cambodia or Laos, but I'm sure they're around.
I don't think speaking the local language is much of an advantage when dealing with trannies, or with hookers in general, though--I suspect many would rather you not understand them when they're saying terrible things about you to their friends.