Hello and welcome to BP.net! I think initially people might have thought your post was a joke just because there was so much information and a good deal of it was information that is not usually supported here.
I think what others have said about the human heating pad is correct. On the picture you posted it even states it has an automatic timer for 2 hours, that means every 2 hours you'd have to go by and turn the pad back on. I use UTH on all my balls and haven't had any issues yet. I will recommend buying a digital thermostat, however, personally I like Hydrofarm's. They are not too terrible price wise, you set a temp, and then it does the rest.
As for the substrate I can only say what I have been using. I have two display tanks that have aspen in them, I also have two tubs with paper towels. I can honestly say the paper towels are a good deal easier than the aspen. You can get white towels for less than a dollar a roll. They will show any mites that might exist, they are also easy to spot any waste or sheds. I think they are a very nice alternative.
I have two adult balls that when I got them the lady said she had never had hides for them and they were perfectly content. Both were happy, ate regularly, etc. I put hides in just to see what would happen, they went straight in. Just because they will do it, doesn't mean its the best situation. You can sleep on the ground, doesn't mean you wouldn't prefer a bed!
Those are my opinions and what I do... but I hope maybe it helped a little.
P.S.
Here's a link for the Hydrofarm thermo... check it out.
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...7237511&sr=8-2
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