I was thinking my ball python was a shy eater, but your explanation on instinctive behavior makes sense since he's otherwise comfortable around me. He always hesitates to eat his frozen/thawed rat when I'm watching, so I turn off the light and leave the room, I go back to check 15 minutes later and he is always finished and gone to siesta in his hide. He doesn't coil his prey either, he did the first feeding after I got him in January but he hasn't ever since.