Define not using water bowl? You aren't seeing him drink out of it, or you aren't seeing him soak in it?

A healthy ball python with a good thermal gradiant, that is mite free and not overfed is not likely to soak (there are always some who are exceptions to the rule, of course).

None of mine soak, and if any of them started to - I'd begin to look at it as a symptom of some problem and try to figure out what it was.

As far as drinking - it's easy to miss seeing them drink - I have enough that I can usually catch some of them drinking each day - but with just one - it could be drinking while you're sleeping.

And yes - it's ok to take him out of his hide to handle him - sounds like he's behaving like a normal ball python should!