This is being made waaay to complex than it really is.
Termite mounds vary between 84 and 90 degrees. The "design" of these has been relentlessly studied...especially in regards to how it regulates temperature...even when temps skyrocket or plummet outside of the structure. Studies on regius have shown that they seek burrows within this temperature range during the day....and no I'm not going to provide the study or a link to it. I think people would be better off if they took the time to study the aspect of the'r animal's natural history rather than having it spoon fed to them.
Ball pythons are mainly nocturnal, and perhaps nominally crepuscular. When they go out to hunt or to search for mates, they expose themselves to temperatures varying anywhere from the mid 80s to the high 60s - depending on the time of the year and the weather and the time at night they decide to take a stroll.
Can you keep your ball python at an overall ambient temperature with no hot spot? I guess.
Can you keep your ball python in an environment where it can choose a wide range of temps? Probably a better idea.
Bondo, it's not so much that people are using out of date or old husbandry. It's more that they never take the time to study the habitat and natural history of the animals they keep.