We've have a few colonies for those BPs that go off feed and we can't seem to excite them with a rat. They seem to me to be good transition food.
I've never had one bite hard enough to draw blood. I have had a nip or two though. I would agree that they are very fast and do not fear heights or jumping. If on gets loose you might as well forget trying to capture it . . . .at least I do.
I can pet some gently but they are not friendly like most of my rats. I doubt if I would try to keep thme as pets for children.