IMO the age of a person should not determine the kind of snake you get; Knowledge/Experience, Ability to properly care, and are financially able to care for the animal you want should be(or the wife says NO!!! and you listen). Any snake considered a "large Constrictor" can potentially kill a person (child, teen or adult) I would not get a snake I didn't like just because I thought it would be less dangerous, most people buy snakes they like and some prefer big snakes.

on a side note, I think a teenager would be at "risk" the most because they are more curious, have the ability to get into a secure snake room/trusted more and are at the age where the want to show friends their cool snake(not that kind, to all you perves out there).

But if you want to get a smaller snake because you think it's the safer route then by all means, to each his own. There is a snake out there for everyone.

I'm not touching on HOTs because I have no experience with them.