Some people have an addictive personality, so it doesn't matter what your poison is you are just prone to it. Reptiles, guns, drugs, booze doesn't matter. The theory is you are addicted to the chemicals your brain makes when, let's say you bring a new animal home, happy chemicals yay. If you can't control it, this hobby might be extremely tough for you.

The judgement will vary from family to family and person to person. A lot of times it's just poor education about snakes. I have select few relatives that won't go in my reptile room due to their irrational fear that has been formed over time in our society. Not everyone is going to like them and that is expected. However I have had quite a few be that way before and now they hold them and find them fascinating.

My mom wouldn't let me bring my first snake into her house when I lived at home, had to keep it else where. Fast forward 10 years and now she's yelling at me for selling the ones she likes. Amazing what a little education and experience with them can do.

As for the religious folk.... Well I'm about as atheist as it gets and once you use religion to justify something, I have no problem pointing out how ridiculous I find the entire concept of religion. At least for me the conversation will not be about snakes for very long. I'm not going to say any more than that outside the quarantine room.

As for more reasons. The deeper you dive in the hobby the more tied down your are to where you keep them. Right now I'm stuck at home tending a generator since the power is out. The rodents need fans running and I don't want the reptile room getting too cold. Also the fish tank can't be out for too long (add fish as another hobby to not get into lol) so I'm getting up every few hours to fill up the gas tank.

normally I'd just throw the dogs some blankets and go do stuff, occasionally coming back to the house to let the dogs out and fire up the generator for an hour to warm the house back up. Continue on with my day afterwards. Not with reptiles and rodents. Just play on my phone a bunch I guess.

Vacations need extra planning, can't go away for work without extra planning.

Also I moved last year, after moving I plan on never moving again. Moving sucks for normal people, but adding a reptile room on top it, spent an extra day just moving them. Finding someone to take the rodents also. Location changes are not easy with a collection.