When to feed/handle

[Eric Alan]

...by pet store employees... I've really just been continuing in the way she was being fed before without really thinking about it...

Therein lies a big reason feeding in a separate enclosure continues to be a thing. Pet stores feed in separate enclosures for completely different (and very valid) reasons because a pet store is a completely different environment than a home. When new keepers ask about feeding, pet store employees unfamiliar with the species just tell them what they're used to doing in the store since that's all the experience they typically have (through no fault of their own). The method seems logical and they have the credibility of working in a pet store, so people typically accept it as gospel and go on their way. In reality, they likely just took care advice from a teenager who thought it would be cool to work in a pet store part time who also hasn't been educated well enough to know any different. Yes, there are a lot of incredibly knowledgeable pet store employees. They are not, however, in the majority.

Do your own research and make informed decisions for yourself - especially when it comes to the care of an animal that will rely on you for everything.