I dont want to use the news paper because it looks bad, same reason I wont use a tub or any other 'Breeder' supplies. I can understand why someone with 5 or more animals will advocate for them but everyone keeps these animals for different reasons. For me My snake is a pet, I want to look at it and want to enjoy what I see. Me and apperently other board members have used cocoa fiber with great sucess. One bad experience switching tanks does not mean I must black list the substrate. Also, Aspen can also cause scale rot and so can news paper is the animal tips over a bowl. Someone who wont pay for either aspen or cocoafiber probably wont spring for a good bowl (see what im talking about). I am a good keeper and am diligent about my snakes health, he sheds and eats very well, gets yearly check ups and has the medicine he needs as soon as its needed. And I am not ignorant of each substrates advantages. As soon as I found the rot he was in a quarinteene tank with nes paper and will stay there untill things are cleared up.