If I rembember correctly (and that gets harder every day) the old RBI PVC cages had the slot in the back and were designed for back heat. I'm positive I didn't have the UTH on the bottom of the cage. The only time I used a bottom UTH was during my short lived experiment with glass tanks...I used feet on those.
interesting, I've never seen a RBI PVC cage, but I know that Boaphiles/PVC Cages and a few others are set up for flexwatt belly heat (or they at least have the option) and they don't have a thermostat probe slot. (one of the many reasons why I don't purchase from them)