Not necessarily harder to care for but less forgiving of errors than BI. Size and frequency of feeding is more prone to cause regurge issues in true red tails when younger if you’re not careful.
They can get larger, but not huge necessarily. Remember that the largest boas are the oldest boas and that goes for all species. Boas get old by being cared for properly and you can easily have an 8’ imperator specimen or an 8’ constrictor specimen, or larger or smaller of either. Some will also never become huge. Every animal is an individual and grows according to its own genetic potential.
As for the cheap ones you mentioned on MM, those are almost all imported and I could not recommend more strongly against them as a first BC. They could have a harder time acclimating to your care, could have parasites, etc, which will exacerbate any issues that BC are more prone to.
I’d recommend purchasing and reading “The More Complete Boa Constrictor” by Vin Russo for more insight as to the care and husbandry of these incredible snakes. My first boa was a Surinam Red Tail and I’ve had zero issues but also did a ton of research beforehand and was well apprised of what problems could be encountered. I think often people have a hard time with these so called more difficult species simply because they didn’t do their homework and got in over their heads.
Best of luck.
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