preg_match(): Compilation failed: regular expression is too large

The problem persists and the topic is current. It can not be somehow easier to solve?

Yes:

1. When you've got hundreds of lines of SQL, use a raw query() instead of shoving it into the Query Builder.
2. Abstract some of that logic into the database itself (e.g. IN(SELECT * FROM table_name) instead of IN(...thousands of items ...)).