Would pipe heat cable for houses work for reptiles?

[The Serpent Merchant]

This guy did it, but he took out the t-stat. It sounds like it might be a fire hazard though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPH6tbrnSmM

Google "pipe heat cable for reptile rack" and you get some hits, an for the most part it sounds a bit unsafe.

As an electrical engineer I would like to whole heartedly ask people not to do this, that is not safe. All it would take to start a fire is bump the dimmer up too far.