I haven't had any problems with it being in my living room. Nobody is home during the day when they are sleeping, and I do hang a navy blue pillowcase over the front of it from evening until morning. Even when we are home that room doesn't get much traffic. The only snakes in there are 3 breeder females and they were all eating fine and they are all breeding fine. Also, all the light in that room comes from my dart frog tanks, and they are on the same light cycle as my snake room, on timers.
The only reason I use the Herpstat for my incubator is because it's newer and my Helix was in use when I got it. I have a night drop cord for the Helix, but I don't have one for the Herpstat, so it made sense. So far I am loving the Herpstat more than my helix though.