I'd say they are over all more curious than a ball python, less shy of unknown things, less easily stressed, less easily startled. Handling doesn't tend to toss them such a curve that they refuse to eat and so forth. That's reasonable handling of course. Over doing it, being rough with them, whatever - well that would stress any snake and turn them a bit distrustful of you.

We've noticed ours tend to be quite nosey about everything so you have to mind where they are going. Having had to flip a couch, rip out the underside to retreive a stubborn boa is an experience we only wanted to do once (and not even then LOL). They are powerful as they mature. The big boa we fostered then sent off to Becky in Texas use to grab pieces of furniture when she was out for exercise and simply haul it here or there with her. It was quite fun "retreiving" the coffee table from 6 foot plus Rauri LOL.

They seem to enjoy climbing since in the wild they are natural and accomplished climbers and hunt at both ground level and up in the trees. Their tails are far more powerful than a ball pythons due to this and our boas will often anchor themselves with their tails to something familar while they stretch out to investigate some new thing.

I'd say they are quite an intelligent snake and quite comical about some things. They seem to simply hate the smell of their own feces and most will develop some odd mannerisms to indicate it's time for you to come clean their home. Rauri used to press her nose to the mesh of her glass tank whenever she pooped as if the tank stunk and would you please come deal with this for her LOL. Tequila coils on her basking shelf and peers down at her smelly dump until you take it away. They very quickly figure out how their home opens and will test it to see if they can manage that too.

When we handle ours we find they love to stretch way out of our arms to check things out and will do these big boa wide head swings. Mind that because if you are walking with a boa they can suddenly swing out and nearly bonk themselves silly on a doorway. Rauri once managed to do a fast swing out and nabbed the handle of the fridge and open it as we walked past. Tequila recently head swung right up the leg of Mike's board shorts LOL.

I'd say handling a boa can be more fun than a ball python due to their more inquisitive nature but not as tiring as trying to keep a busy, fast colubrid from diving down the back of your chair.