I think they definitely can have a preference for one person over another, and can get used to their owner, However; I think it more likely to be conditioning or that they are choosing the lesser of 2 evils...the known vs the unknown.

When one of my children says " look he likes me!" because one of our animals has decided his loose sleeve looks like a dark cozy warm place to hide, of course the answer is " Yes sweety,he most certainly does!"

I'll admit to projecting emotions on to my reptiles, to cooing and occasionally scolding them... But then I do that to my car too. In reality I have zero faith that my esteem is remotely returned ( by either), as much as I would like it to be so.

The only time I see my reptiles waiting excitedly at their door for my arrival is on feeding day (God willing with ball pythons!)

I agree with what others have already said. We all like to think ourselves 'special', and our animals are 'exceptional' ( which they are of course) but to believe that the emotions we project on them are what they truly feel, is in my opinion extremely naive.