OK I keep getting flack for keeping my snakes in a rack system

[MrLang]

Tell your friends they don't know what they're talking about.

Crot -
You vastly overestimate the brain function of these animals. The lowest stress housing is the one where the conditions they seek in the wild are met. Humidity, heat gradient, water, food, shelter. That's it buddy. They don't want bright light, they don't want you staring at them, they don't want you misting them all the time. They don't want to choose between an optimal hide for their security and having the right temperature. They don't want a scenic view of the natural wood branch you have sitting in air space in their enclosure that they have no intention to ever need or 'want.' Not only do they not want those things, but you add stress by allowing some of those things. Stress is what drives them to seek proper humidity, heat, food, water, shelter. Stress can also lead to feeding strikes, sickness, and death.

When you try to provide a 'natural' living space for a pet, you're not doing them a favor. Release your snakes in the wild if that's what you're going for. One of the main responsibilities of pet ownership includes providing safer, lower stress conditions than the animal would face in its natural environment. I'm not saying that's impossible to do with a natural viv, I'm saying it makes no difference if the basic list of needs / 'wants' above is catered to.