Is this substrate ok?

[MarkS]

but don't you at least feel as a person recommending a potentially dangerous product that the burden of proof is on you? Your proof so far is anecdotal.

No I don't feel that the burden of proof is on me because I don't believe it is harmful. I have PERSONAL experience keeping snakes on pine for many many years and they were fine. I don't repeat rumors I hear on the internet just because someone else says something is bad, I give advice according to my personal experience. Like I said, I've known some keepers who have kept snakes on pine for decades without any problems, anecdotal evidence or not that's good enough for me.