I think that snakes actually prefer to be enclosed. Every time I stressed out a snake it was because I kept it in an enclosure that was open. Since I got my ARS rack with grey tubs my snakes are 100% more comfortable, eat better, and are way less stressed. I think that's a human perspective, it's like being stressed out over earthworms being in the ground LOL.
I think probably the number one reason snakes make good pets is that they are super low maintenance. They can literally go for months without food and hardly lose any weight at all. Their food conversion rate is astounding, they almost convert all the food to energy and weight gain. Even on a regular feeding schedule they only need one rodent every week or so.
I also believe that most snakes like to be held, mainly because we act as a 'hot spot' that they can warm up to, especially since they are cold blooded.
The thing that blows me away is how many people are terrified of snakes and how most will prefer a dog over a snake. Dogs are super high maintenance, they are more work than all my animals. I can skip feeding my fish for days, I can load up the hay on my cows and they can go for days without needing anything. I can literally ignore my snakes for a week and they are perfectly fine. But a dog, forget about it. You need to feed them twice a day and take them out several times for a 'piddle' every single day LOL. The only animal that's more maintenance is a toddler LOL.
The other amazing thing about snakes is that they come in all sorts of sizes and colors.
And have you ever tried to kill a snake? You can put one in a box and dig a hole and bury it in the ground and dig it up months later and it will still be alive. You can try to gas it several times with CO2, enough that would kill any rodent, and it will come back to life. You almost have to decapitate them to kill them, they are probably the toughest pet you can own. I think that's why some call them the Gods LOL.
Also, I think they can be easily tamed. I used to catch wild grass snakes and after just a few minutes of handling they are just like family pets.
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