although I agree with everything you said... I've owned a few ball pythons for a while now and will sometimes hold them for hours at a time (like when watching TV or a movie) and I'll just let them chill in my hands or on my lap, and not any of them have ever seemed the least bit stressed out during or after doing that, in fact - they love the attention and getting out of their cage. I've also found that the more you hold your bp, the less skittish they will be. this is just what I've noticed after a while with all my girls, I think ball pythons do best when given lots of love and attention, so that's what I do and I couldn't have better bp's (look and personality wise)