While I realize that the plural of anecdote is not data, I have a nine foot two year old purple male rattling around in a 96"x30"x18" enclosure. His prior owner had him in a 48"x30"x18" and he was fine in it.
I make hides for my larger snakes from plastic restaurant bus tubs, and he has one. He's also not aggressive or defensive in the least. All of my larger snakes do use their hides regularly.