I take the dead opposite view,
Snakes have a single long lung, the lung runs past liver, heart and all major arteries and veins in the body. The temperature of the air in the lung plays a huge roll in the ability of thermoregulation. If the core is too cool they will not be able to heat the core with a surface temp alone.
There is an idea floating around (unproven as of yet) that low ambient air temps are why a snake will sit on a heat source and become burned rather than move away. In lab tests heat is used as a stimuli and I know from experience they will move away from hot or cool tongs but sit on ones that are room temp. Clearly they can feel temps. The fact also stands that many have had stat failures but never had a burn. My first stat failure was in a rack while I was away. I returned to 5 snakes all on top of hides, in water bowls and against the cool side. No burns, a hot spot of 160ºF and not a single burn or issue. Yet I know snakes have and do sit on hot spots that are this temp and get burned why? The best guess the vets I work with and have spoken to is it is due to low ambient air temps.
The two vets I works the closest with both believe that hot spots are just a fine tuning to thermal regulation. The air temp is the principal method. This is demonstrated by big breeders and some zoos that keep high ambients and no hot spots. I personally have seen a number of snake sick because of low ambients and correct hot spots.
Greg your air temp is ok cool but ok. If you can I would bump it up a few more degrees if possible (80ºF is great). That is quite a lot of lift over the room temp you have managed few have been able to get that much in a tub. The more temp you can pick up for the air the warmer the hot spot will become as well. I have never seen paper hold that much heat, usually I only see a few degrees. I might either fit the paper better so it does not lift up but sits firmly on the floor or switch to something different. Is the snake a baby? if so cooler hot spots are often better usually 88ºF is my preference.
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