Too each his own..
Kiln dried pine is as safe as aspen for rodents. Half the price.
Never had a sneezing mouse or rat yet.
Seriously though, kiln drying the pine takes the phenols out of the wood. Thus, taking most of the problem away.
That being said, I would never use it on reptiles...
Everyone has their own opinion on it, but I've been breeding rodents on pine for years in huge numbers with no problems.