Heather I really will like to help but my knowledge of big reptile business is too small.
Only thing I know for sure is:
You need to choose is what You doing should be just hobby eventually supporting your life... then really Frenzy and Want attitude is not good and could make things go from bad to worse... or.... This will be Your life... then you need to take a risk.
People like Kevin McCurley or Brian Barczyk will not be where they are if they not put everything in the business and will not sacrifice a lot to get what they have.
I only wonder how long whole Ball python craze last... how many new things will still popping up... and with more and more people focusing they hobby on breeding when this big avalanche of reptile business with ball python market is... will stop.
So I totally understand your dilemma and I wish I could have bigger/better piece of advice...