Getting some new cages put together for the males I'm hoping to pick up for my girls over the next few months.

My previous cages are AP T8s, with the 8'' screen hole cut in the top for a lamp, in which I use a ceramic heating element.

AP says that if I send them a radiant heat panel in the mail, they'll install it for me.

Should I do that? What are the advantages (if any), aside from less moisture loss and less overhead space required between stacked cages?

Does a heat panel have much longer shelf life than a ceramic heating element, and will I be able to replace it in the AP cage easily if it fails?

Lastly, if it is better to go with the panel, does anybody have a model recommendation that would be appropriate for a BP in an AP T8?

Thanks!