"Just as a natural reaction I jump still when he takes the f/t because it's such a fast movement." Just checking -- if you're 'presenting' the prey item (that is, not simply placing it on a tray in the enclosure for the snake to eat when it is ready), you're using a long forceps, correct?
Just a personal sort of anecdote: when I get bitten, I have a big startle reaction. Every single time. It is really a bad thing, but it seems to be reflexive. Once I jerked back when a little male hognose bit me (misplaced feeding strike -- I had the mouse on a tongs and he came FLYING out), and caught a fang when I pulled away. Big bloody wound (relative to what it would have been if I would have stayed still). My possibly odd tactic now is to look away when I know I'm going to get bitten, since I don't flinch if I don't see the strike. This might be useful info to you, or might not.
"do they have enough awareness not to strike the thing that's holding them?" I have some snakes that bite the hook I pick them up with, and bite the side of their enclosure when I put them back. Depends on the snake. I don't think they can reason through what would cause a keeper to drop them, though.
The only snakes I have that get agitated after extended handling are rainbow boas, and they have given only a warning strike (no bite). That works, since then I am warned and I put them away.
I agree that your snake might not actually be in a strike position. If it was, I think you would have gotten tagged by now.
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